On AnkiWeb[.]net, I had a discussion with @sorata about the 20 Rules of Knowledge Formation (also known as Wozniak’s 20 rules). During our discussion, @sorata, the creator of the NEET UG deck, expressed a preference for creating large flashcards with multiple cloze deletions, arguing that having more context within a single flashcard is beneficial.
However, from my own experience with flashcards, I believe that too much context can be detrimental to efficient learning.
“Writing context is good, but providing too much context is bad.”
I have noticed that in the NEET UG deck, many flashcards contain multiple cloze deletions within large paragraphs. I believe this is a poor approach for the following reasons:
1. Memorization Instead of Learning
When a learner reviews a flashcard with multiple cloze deletions in a long paragraph, they tend to memorize the orderof the missing words rather than understanding the content. This creates a false sense of mastery.
2. Predictable Pattern Recognition
Because of the abundant surrounding context, the learner can see the lines above and below the cloze word. This makes it easy to recall the missing word not because of understanding, but simply because it is positioned between known words. Over time, the learner relies on this pattern rather than truly learning the material.
3. Interference with Spaced Repetition
In an ideal spaced repetition system, we should be reviewing a specific fact after a delay (e.g., 2 days → 7 days → 15 days, etc.). However, if a flashcard always exposes additional context (such as multiple cloze deletions in the same paragraph), we are effectively seeing other parts of the card too frequently, which disrupts the spaced repetition process.
4. The Problem with Occluding Lecture Slides for Cramming
Some students take entire lecture slides, occlude large chunks of text, and use them for cramming. This is a bad ideabecause:
• The occluded parts are still surrounded by too much context , making recall pattern-based rather than concept-based .
• Lecture slides are often dense with information, so occluding parts of them does not create atomic flashcards, leading to poor long-term retention.
• This approach is inefficient for spaced repetition, as the learner is not engaging with individual key facts but rather memorizing the slide layout itself.
A Better Approach: Optimizing Flashcard Design
To avoid these pitfalls, I recommend the following strategies:
1. Image Occlusion Flashcards
• Use the “Hide All, Guess One” approach rather than just hiding a single label at a time.
• This prevents the learner from seeing other parts of the answer, ensuring they focus only on the specific fact being tested.
2. Cloze Deletion Flashcards
• Instead of creating long paragraph cloze deletions, test one or two key facts per flashcard.
• Ensure each card is atomic, meaning it tests a single, well-defined piece of information.
• This improves recall without overwhelming the learner with too much information at once.
• For context, we do not need a whole paragraph. A single word within the atomic flashcard can provide just enough context for proper retrieval without unnecessary distractions.
Example Deck and Further Discussion
I wish I could share an example deck with you to illustrate these concepts better. However, I am still learning how to post on Anki forums and use Discord effectively.
Additionally, I recommend checking out USMLE and MCAT decks to see examples of high-quality flashcards that effectively use minimal context while maximizing retention.
Let’s discuss—how do you structure your flashcards to balance context without excessive clues? Looking forward to your thoughts!