Why spaced repetition and active recall testing works, and how to use Anki to memorize things by employing these methods. Presented by Kerrick Staley at SF Learning Night on February 11th, 2015.

1. Anki
Kerrick Staley

2. What is it?

3. What is it?
● b

4. What is it?
● b

5. What is it?
●
● flashcard software

6. What is it?
●
● flashcard software
● uses active recall testing and spaced
repetition to improve retention

7. What is it?
● active recall testing: user recalls answers
while reviewing
○ i.e. flashcards
● spaced repetition: items are repeated over a
period of time
○ with an increasing interval
○ interval is decreased when you forget an item

8. What is it?

9. What is it?

10. What is it useful for?
● anything that requires rote memorization!
○ languages
○ biology and anatomy
○ chemistry
○ geography
○ guitar chords
○ programming terminology, syntax, APIs

11. Getting cards
● lots of community-made decks at
ankiweb.net/shared/decks/
● or make your own!
○ plain text
○ HTML
○ LaTeX
○ embedded video & audio

12. Demo

13. Running it
● Mac/Linux/Windows - ankisrs.net
● Android: AnkiDroid
● (paid) iOS: AnkiMobile
● web: ankiweb.net
● syncing service