cramWhat products will come out of this module:
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What is CRAM?CRAM is an application that creates virtual flashcards. It actually can synchronize with an online account where you can set up flashcards, quizzes, or even search for already created resources to help you learn.
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Step 1: Memorization as a tool
The process of memorizing things has been of interest to academics for many generations. One of the great benefits of CRAM is that you can save your flashcard sets and review again - repetition of information. Memorize mode is based on the Leitner system, or spaced repetition related to memorization patterns (see left) that can amp up the learning capacity in the brain.
The Leitner system is a process that lets you focus on the concepts that you have more difficulty learning. It moves captured learning to a place that requires less focus because that knowledge has been attained. While it sounds complex it is a very effective method of remembering things because you can work on concepts that have not been achieved thereby not wasting precious time for studying. |
Assignment 1
We all know that students need help with study methods - we also know that the base knowledge to achieve higher levels of engagement is important for student success. Very few students have a solid methodology to master lower levels of learning, such as memorization. They always seem to have their phone, but trying to get them to carry around a set of index cards to help them remember concepts isn't easy. The question is then, how do we, as educators, help our students to remember? You will be creating a body of study related to the art of memorization for educators at Cary High.
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Video on the use of flashcards for understanding. It is 11:29 minutes long and has a lot of supporting evidence for using cards as learning through memorization.
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- Once you have found your article or resource go to "Memorization for Learning" blog.
- There you will be posting your article URL so make sure to copy exactly by right clicking.
- You will also need to post a response to the following question along with your resource URL.
Why do think this article shares an effective approach to memorization, or its relevance to student learning through memorization?
Step 2: building a lesson |
Below are written directions on how to use the online app to create flashcards and the various modes for using flashcards that are built into the application. Please review these instructions before you begin your lesson construction.
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Assignment 2
First create your lesson plan opportunity using the memorization approach you have chosen to apply to the creation of flashcards for your students. Please create using Google Doc and post the link in the box to the right. The tutorial on how to create flashcards from your phone or tablet is above. Remember (no pun) that you are applying this to a topic in your classroom where base information needs to be superimposed on the students thought process in conjunction with the memory approach you have chosen in assignment 1. Second part of the assignment is to create an example set of flashcards that you can share out to others in your department. Email the link to others in your subject area, but please share out your cards using Twitter and include @CHSKeller in the tweet. If you aren't familiar with Twitter this is a great opportunity to join in the mobile learning. (If you are setting up an account for the first time - Twitter tutorial. Please be careful choosing your Twitter handle.) Some Ideas for Using CRAM. |
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Step 3: Reflection
In our very busy lives as educators we sometimes forget that many students come to us without skills that we think they should have mastered. Skills related to studying are especially in short order. Something as simple as note taking can be a skill that we assume students understand, but they've never had any true formal training. According to Education Corner, "at the end of nine weeks, those students that reviewed their notes within a day recalled about 75% of what they'd been taught. Those students who did not review their notes following class were not able to recall even 50% of the information covered during the lecture after one day and only slightly than 20% information nine weeks later".
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Assignment 3
Come up with an idea on how you will evaluate your students study abilities. We've done a lot of work with developing surveys with Google Forms in previous professional development, not to mention something as simple as a show of hands. Share an idea for how you might introduce your class to various study techniques for remembering the material from your class using CRAM in the blog link - Evaluating Studying. |