Quizlet

This resource creates digital flashcards with accompanying study and game options for the purpose of studying and learning specific terms and phrases.

There is a log-in option which allows students to create their own flashcards, but no log in is required to view flashcards that other people have created and publically shared.

This resource would be useful for improving recall of Te Reo words at any level of the curriculum and on any topic.

Year Level

Any year level

Digital Technology

Website–accessible from computers, laptops, mobile devices and tablets/iPads.

Android/Apple App.

Access

http://quizlet.com

Search ‘Quizlet’ in Google Play or iTunes to download app.

Features

Create own flashcards or view already made flashcards.
Range of topics and possibilities available.
Has study features such as flashcards, multi choice questions, questions that require written answers, oral to written and written to oral options, a short test, mix and match game with leader board (requires an account), and a game called Gravity where users have to answer questions before the meteor crashes to the ground.
Quizlet Live option where students in a class can complete the task set by the teacher at the same time by using a code that links to the teacher’s flashcards and other study features.
Easy to navigate layout.
See https://quizlet.com/267086461/pepeha-flash-cards/ for an example of flashcards with the theme of learning phrases and words to introduce yourself (pepeha).

Review and Critique

This resource allows teachers and students to easily create their own interactive activities (flashcards and study material) based on the topic that is being focused on in the classroom (Churchill, 2017).

Flashcards created by other users are able to be used, but since they are personally created, there is the risk that the information may not be accurate. Nevertheless, the flashcard and accompanying study options allow students the opportunity to improve their recall of the language by repeatedly interacting and engaging with relevant words and phrases that are being taught in lessons (Bransford, Brown, Cocking, Donovan, & Pellegrino, 2000; Churchill, 2017; Mills, 2014).

The flashcards and study options such as multiple choice questions, short written answers, and tests are similar to traditional means of drills and practises that test students’ recollection of knowledge (Churchill, 2017). However, this resource can be classed as more of an interactive drill or practise because of the mix and match game and the Quizlet Live option which incorporates recall with collaboration and critical thinking. This enables students to actively use information rather than simply receiving it passively (Churchill, 2017).

The flashcards and accompanying study features are able to be used and created individually or collaboratively in the classroom, as well as individually outside of school. This resource does not replace the teaching of the language, but rather it motivates, engages and promotes independent and collaborative learning (Earl & Forbes, 2016; Kirkman, 2017; Mills, 2014). It is likely that this resource will not meet the needs of all students, but it is a tool that may suit the majority of students when trying to consolidate their learning (Earl & Forbes, 2016; O'Mara et al., 2017).

The downfalls of this resource is that it can read the flashcard for the user, but it only has the capability of speaking in English, therefore the listening tests are irrelevant because it speaks the phrase in English and then asks the user to write down the phrase in English.

Recommendations for Users and Developers

I would recommend that this resource be used after lessons that involved the teaching of new words and phrases. I would also recommend encouraging students to access this resource in their own time to continue practising the language outside of class (Kirkman, 2017).

It would be advisable for teachers or students (depending on their age) to make their own flashcards to use, unless they are absolutely certain that the flashcards created by another user are accurate and reflect their region’s personal dialect.

I have suggested that this resource could be used at any year level, because of the function that allows users to create their own flashcards. This means that teachers can create flashcards based on their students’ needs.

A recommendation for the developers would be to put in a multi-language option so that Te Reo could be heard in the read aloud option. This way students and teachers would also learn the correct pronunciation.

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