The idea behind this system is the learning method of "spaced repetition" based on the psychological principle of "spacing effect" Click here to read the wikipedia entry on this subject
eLitener
I have used Access 2007 to make these, and you would need it in order to use the programs.
You can download these eLiteners free of charge and distribute or modify them as you see fit. You may not resell this free educational software for commercial purposes.
You are using this software at your own risk. I will not provide technical support, though if you email me I will try my best to help you with your question.
Before you download this program, please thoroughly read the section on the right that describes how it works.
English Litener Guide
Click bellow to download a pdf instruction guide on how to use the English Litener. I have not written manuals for the other two liteners, though they are very similar.
Software Guide for eLitner (English) - pdf
Litener Software
Click bellow to download the different litener applications.
Leitner Learning System
In psychology, the spacing effect refers to the fact that humans more easily remember items in a list when they are studied a few times over a long period of time ("spaced presentation"), rather than studied repeatedly in a short period time ("massed presentation").
A widely used method to efficiently use flashcards was proposed by Sebastian Leitner in the 1970s known as the Leitner system which is based on this principle. (Also known as Litener System)
This is How it Works:
Imagine a row of boxes numbered 1 - 50. On a flash card, you write the meaning or some hint of what you are trying to recall on one side and the solution on the other. The flash card is then placed in box number 1. Each day you do two things:
- Review the flash cards that are in boxes numbered 1,3,7,15, 30 and 50. If you correctly recalled the word, the flash card stays, otherwise it is removed and will be placed in box number 1 once you are done reviewing and moving the cards.
- Move all cards one box forward.
So imagine you are trying to learn French. You put in a flash card with "hello" on the reference side and "bonjour" on the other. The card is now in Box 1. Tomorrow when its time again to review your flash cards, you pick out boxes 1,3,7,15, 30 and 50 to review their contents. If you correctly recall "bonjour", then it would be moved to Box 2 once you move all the cards forward. The day after, you will not be reviewing it, since it is not in one of the 'review' boxes. Again after doing your daily review you move all the cards forward, so now "bonjour" is in Box 3. so on the third day, you will have to review it again. As you can see, if you correctly recall "bonjour" every time, in 50 days it will get to the last box where it is reviewed one last time before leaving the system. Say on day 50, you review it and are unable to get the right answer, then the card will return to Box 1 and will have to go through the process once more. So the box's number in a way indicate the "day" the card is at.
Advantages of this system
- You can be actively learning few hundred words at a time, though on a daily bases would have to deal with a fraction of that, so you are not overwhelmed trying to review 500 words a day.
- Since the words are reviewed less frequently as they progress through the system, you focus more on the words that have not been learned yet.
- The time delay helps to make sure that the words are consolidated in the memory. By the end of it, when a word leaves box 50 you can be sure that you will not forget it ever again.
- You can use this system for any learning objective. Anything that you can put on a flash card could be studied through the Litener. It is particulalry great in helping one prepare for graduate entrance exams, using this system I was able to expand my vocuabuly to the point of getting a 800/800 score on my GRE verbal exam - something rare for non native speaker.
Computer Version of Leitner - eLitener
I have been using this system for over 6 years now. I used to have actually boxes, and I used it for English vocabulary. I found it to be a very effective learning strategy so I wanted to apply to other subjects as well. Though as you can imagine the process itself can be daunting if you actually have to use physical boxes. So I decided to write a computer program to make this easier.
I used Microsoft Access 2007 to make and electronic version of this program. The advantages using this software is first you don't have to deal with physical boxes, and you don't have to worry about what's happening behind the scenes (moving cards from boxes to boxes etc). Also once the word leaves the system it is maintained in this Access database, so you can go back and review it on occasion or keep track of how many items you have learned through this system. This gives the added advantage of being able to review words you have learned a while a go, and if you don't feel comfortable with them, with a click you can have them back in the system.
You can download my version of Litener for English, French and General Knowledge. I have also written a guide for the English Litener (pdf format). Click on the appropriate links on the left side bar. Bellow is a screen shot of the English Litener.
Other Resources for Vocabulary / Learning Software.
There are many sites that have lists of vocabulary if that's something that you need. Bellow are two that i'm currently using:
You can find similar programs at these links