OpenCards
Encyclopedia
OpenCards is a free
spaced repetition
flashcard
program. The software is similar to SuperMemo
, Anki
or Mnemosyne
.
The flashcards are saved as PowerPoint
presentation files and may include text, images, sounds and LaTeX
equations. The learning states are saved in hidden meta-data files in the same directory as the flashcards files. OpenCards implements learning schemes for short-term and long-term
memorization.
By allowing users to create flashcard files in ppt-format with PowerPoint
or LibreOffice
it overcomes the major limitation of other flashcard software, which usually rely on custom formats and flashcard editors. Internally, OpenCards relies on Apache POI to render slides from ppt-files.
short-term learning procedure, called last-minute learning, and a more sophisticated long-term memorization model based on the principles of active recall
and the forgetting model
. The latter is implemented as an improved version of the SuperMemo2 algorithm. The SM2 algorithm had been created for SuperMemo in the late 1980s, but still forms the basis of many spaced repetition software applications. OpenCards's implementation of the algorithm
has been modified to allow priorities on cards, and to show cards in order of their urgency.
In 2011, OpenCards was resdesigned to work as stand alone software, and to support PowerPoint ppt-files as main flashcard set file format.
Free and open source software
Free and open-source software or free/libre/open-source software is software that is liberally licensed to grant users the right to use, study, change, and improve its design through the availability of its source code...
spaced repetition
Spaced repetition
Spaced repetition is a learning technique that incorporates increasing intervals of time between subsequent review of previously learned material; this exploits the psychological spacing effect...
flashcard
Flashcard
A flashcard or flash card is a set of cards bearing information, as words or numbers, on either or both sides, used in classroom drills or in private study. One writes a question on a card and an answer overleaf. Flashcards can bear vocabulary, historical dates, formulas or any subject matter that...
program. The software is similar to SuperMemo
SuperMemo
SuperMemo is a learning method and software package developed by SuperMemo World and SuperMemo R&D with Piotr Wozniak in Poland from 1985 to the present...
, Anki
Anki
Anki is a spaced repetition flashcard program. The software is similar to SuperMemo, a commercial product for the same purpose, and Mnemosyne, another free flashcard program. Anki is the Japanese word for "memorizing"....
or Mnemosyne
Mnemosyne (software)
Mnemosyne is spaced repetition software developed from 2003 until the present. The software is similar to SuperMemo, commercial software developed by Piotr Wozniak....
.
The flashcards are saved as PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint, usually just called PowerPoint, is a non-free commercial presentation program developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite, and runs on Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS X operating system...
presentation files and may include text, images, sounds and LaTeX
LaTeX
LaTeX is a document markup language and document preparation system for the TeX typesetting program. Within the typesetting system, its name is styled as . The term LaTeX refers only to the language in which documents are written, not to the editor used to write those documents. In order to...
equations. The learning states are saved in hidden meta-data files in the same directory as the flashcards files. OpenCards implements learning schemes for short-term and long-term
Long-term memory
Long-term memory is memory in which associations among items are stored, as part of the theory of a dual-store memory model. According to the theory, long term memory differs structurally and functionally from working memory or short-term memory, which ostensibly stores items for only around 20–30...
memorization.
Flashcard Format
OpenCards uses PowerPoint ppt-files as flashcard sets. Thereby, slide-titles are considered as questions and the slide contents as their answers. OpenCards also supports a reversed mode in which slide contents are treated as questions and the slide title as their answers, which allows to create image, formula or sound questions.By allowing users to create flashcard files in ppt-format with PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint, usually just called PowerPoint, is a non-free commercial presentation program developed by Microsoft. It is part of the Microsoft Office suite, and runs on Microsoft Windows and Apple's Mac OS X operating system...
or LibreOffice
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free and open source office suite developed by The Document Foundation as a fork of OpenOffice.org. It is largely compatible with other major office suites, including Microsoft Office, and available on a variety of platforms...
it overcomes the major limitation of other flashcard software, which usually rely on custom formats and flashcard editors. Internally, OpenCards relies on Apache POI to render slides from ppt-files.
Learning Modes
OpenCards implements two different learning models. A box-basedLeitner system
The Leitner system is a widely used method to efficiently use flashcards that was proposed by the German science journalist Sebastian Leitner in the 1970s...
short-term learning procedure, called last-minute learning, and a more sophisticated long-term memorization model based on the principles of active recall
Active recall
Active recall is a principle of efficient learning, which claims the need to actively stimulate memory during the learning process. It contrasts with passive review, in which the learning material is processed passively . For example, reading a text about George Washington, with no further action,...
and the forgetting model
Forgetting curve
The forgetting curve hypothesizes the decline of memory retention in time. A related concept is the strength of memory that refers to the durability that memory traces in the brain. The stronger the memory, the longer period of time that a person is able to recall it...
. The latter is implemented as an improved version of the SuperMemo2 algorithm. The SM2 algorithm had been created for SuperMemo in the late 1980s, but still forms the basis of many spaced repetition software applications. OpenCards's implementation of the algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
has been modified to allow priorities on cards, and to show cards in order of their urgency.
History
OpenCards started as flachcard learning extension for OpenOffice Impress in spring 2008, from what it inherited the first part of its name. In 2008 it won a Bronze award in the OpenOffice.org Community Innovation Program.In 2011, OpenCards was resdesigned to work as stand alone software, and to support PowerPoint ppt-files as main flashcard set file format.
Syncing
OpenCards implements no synchronization mechanism, but flashcard sets including their learning states can be synced using services like DropBox. This allows the user to keep their flashcard sets synchronized across multiple computers.See also
- Mnemosyne (software)Mnemosyne (software)Mnemosyne is spaced repetition software developed from 2003 until the present. The software is similar to SuperMemo, commercial software developed by Piotr Wozniak....
- AnkiAnkiAnki is a spaced repetition flashcard program. The software is similar to SuperMemo, a commercial product for the same purpose, and Mnemosyne, another free flashcard program. Anki is the Japanese word for "memorizing"....
- Flashcard ExchangeFlashcard ExchangeFlashcard Exchange is a free web-based application for the creation, study, and sharing of flashcards. With more than 21 million flashcards generated by its users, Flashcard Exchange's electronic flashcard library is the biggest in the world.-History:...
- List of flashcard software