Description: Flashcard-based tool that can be used on a phone or tablet as an app, or on a computer. Includes a searchable and shareable database for quizlets created by other users and integrated on platforms with a URL.
Cost: Free to use on the phone for complete access to quizlets using the app. Fee to access full quizlet content on computers.
Demo: To learn more about this technology and how to use it as a teaching tool, watch my demonstration of Quizlet.
UDL
Quizlet fits UDL guidelines across all principles; however, it best fits as part of representation and engagement. Depending on how the tool is used in the curriculum, it can also be useful as action and expression.
Representation: Quizlet allows instructors to create vocabulary or a concept-based tool for students to improve comprehension by highlighting patterns within a flashcard deck. This fits UDL guidelines with providing options for comprehension, language expression, and perception.
Engagement: The interactive game setting allows students to increase engagement in learning concepts and terminology. It will also contribute to their self-assessment of how well they are learning the material, which can lead to goal-setting. This fits UDL guidelines with providing options for self-regulation, sustaining effort and persistence, and recruiting interest.
Action & Expression: When used as a tool for creation, students can have a choice in a format to complete vocabulary analysis. Introduction to the technology tool will also allow students to share and create flashcards for other classes or materials within the class as a study tool. This fits UDL guidelines with providing options for executive function, expression and communication, and physical action.
For specific areas that Quizlet fits the UDL principles, please see infographic below with highlighted areas showing the specific integration of Quizlet with UDL guidelines.
Curriculum and Example
Terminology in anatomy and physiology can be extensive and include the identification of anatomical structures and relating vocabulary to concepts. Flashcards are a tool that can help students learn the terminology and link together common concepts. While flashcards are not always the best strategy for learning concepts, it can help with recall through repetition and works well for some students. The student can gamify the quizlet deck on the app/website as well to improve engagement in learning the material.
One way that I use quizlet in my class is having the SI tutor create flashcard decks with the information in my class for students to use to review the course material. This enables students to interactively learn the terminology and introduces them to quizlet to make their own flashcards for other vocabulary and concepts. In my class, this is an asynchronous practice activity on Canvas for students to review.
Example: Here is a quizlet about the different types of immune cells and information about which line of defense they are part of, what cells they are derived from, and their functions. For this lesson, I introduce students to the different types of immune cells and they can practice with the quizlet flashcard deck in an asynchronous way to learn the terminology as it applies to the concepts.
NOTE: Access to the full quizlet for free can be on the Quizlet app for your phone, but not on the computer.
SWOT Analysis
Context: Online/hybrid college science (anatomy and physiology) course, but can be used in other courses.
S- Format includes the ability to insert images, text, and multi-media. Searchable content for other user flashcards, which can be shareable with a URL link. Can be be integrated in a platform like Canvas. Creating a quizlet class allows instructors to track student progress.
W- Full access to slide decks by others is limited on the computer to a paid subscription, but free on the phone Quizlet app. Flashcard format is the only available option for content creation.
O- Allows students to create their own flashcards to review vocabulary and concepts. Can be helpful for English language learners to connect vocabulary to concepts in pre-made flashcards. This works as an asynchronous practice tool for students to review vocabulary and concepts and increases repetition and recall of content by improving engagement with gamifying the content.
T- Flashcard format is a lower level Bloom's pedagogy strategy that encourages memorization.
Comparison to Other Tools
Quizlet is a flashcard technology tool that students or instructors can use to create materials to help students recall and learn concepts and terminology. There are several flashcard technology tools availabe, but I will compare this to a free option students use at Edmonds College, Anki. Anki is a free, downloaded program that can be used to create flashcards on your computer. To use Anki on your phone, you need to use the AnkiWeb; however, AnkiWeb is limited in it's capabilities for multi-media features and is best used in conjunction with the computer version. Quizlet is web-based and easier to use with creating flashcards than Anki. However, since full access to flashcard decks is only possible on quizlet using the phone app, it can be limiting for students using a computer, which requires a fee.
Reflection
During the pandemic, I was looking for activities for students to practice learning vocabulary for topics that didn't have interactive activities, but were tailored to my course material as well. Quizlet was a practice activity to help students repetition and recall of the vast terminology in my class. Through further analysis of this tool, it could be used as an assessment tool, but would need to verify the quizlet was created by the student, which can be done if the student has an account or part of a quizlet class. I like introducing students to this technology tool as a way for them to also create their own quizlets. Many students also are aware of this tool already and utilize it in their studying.
The use of flashcards is a limited strategy used to memorize vocabulary and concepts, but is not a pedagogy strategy that emphasizes the higher order critical thinking skills. However, it is a useful tool to help students learn vocabulary words. Many of my students are English language learners, making this tool helpful to them when it is included as part of an online practice material combined with the concepts in the lesson.