January 31st, 2008
I just added a “multiple choice” mode to the flashcards application. In this mode, the word is displayed and read, 4 pictures from the set are shown, and the user must select the correct picture before moving to the next question. There is no multiple choice mode for flashcards in the “story” and “math” categories; these will display as flashcards even if multiple choice mode is selected.
Many homeschooling (and especially unschooling) advocates warn about the dangers of testing, including Glenn Doman himself, who calls testing unrewarding and unpleasant. John Holt also warns against testing and cautions that judgment can dampen the desire for learning.
However, I personally enjoy testing in a relaxed and non-judgmental atmosphere. Something about searching my mind for the correct answer seems to strengthen the neural pathways more than just being told the correct answer. I can say that while testing the multiple choice feature, my knowledge of geography has definitely expanded! One of my favorite websites right now is Freerice.com, a vocabulary building website where you select the correct definition of some scarily difficult words from among four choices (and every correct answer donates 20 grains of rice towards ending world hunger). I am hoping that adding this more interactive dimension will draw in older children (like my 4-year-old) who are not entertained by mere flashcards.
So try out the multiple choice and see how you like it, but please don’t pressure your little ones to move into testing before they are ready. Enjoy!
Posted in the big girl (11/03), the webapp | 1 Comment »
January 26th, 2008
I have completed my goal of posting one dozen new sets this weekend. There are some maps of Africa, famous scientists, more foods, and more German, all rounded off with the Ancient Wonders of the World. There is also a partial post of Denslow’s Mother Goose, from Project Gutenberg. I am breaking this book into volumes because there are so many nursery rhymes and my girl’s attention span is fairly short. I like making content because it is fast and easy and I see instant results!
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January 21st, 2008
It has been almost a month since I updated anything on this site, and that is because I have been working on restructuring the database and rewriting the flashcard builder interface. And Christmas. I have some really neat plans for interface upgrades in the future, but it will probably take me about 3 months to implement them.
In the meantime, my friend Sara visited me this weekend, and she is from Germany, so please enjoy learning some German words with my new language sets. THANK YOU SARA! I still have more recordings to process, so more German sets are to come. I also have some number sets up in Spanish and Arabic, thanks to Ray and Komal.
I have been watching the traffic of this site, and I have noticed that I am starting to build a small base of users who return again and again. It is so encouraging to know that a few other people out in cyberspace are using my flashcards! I wanted to launch this blog to try to connect with regular users, to let you know what updates are in the works and to get your feedback and experiences with the flashcards. I may also write some technical posts on how to design web applications with PHP, mySQL, and Javascript. This blog uses WordPress with the Tm Clear n 1 1.0 theme, with very little modification, just my menu bar at the top. Please leave me a comment if you have time.
The other thing that is encouraging is using the flashcards with my younger daughter, Liane. She will turn 2 in February, and she has been playing with the flashcards since about 18 months. Her favorites are the animals and the household words, but maps and presidents and famous paintings all take their turns, too. Whenever she sees me on the computer, she runs up and demands flashcards!
Posted in the content, the little girl (2/06), the webapp, traffic | No Comments »