Quizlet? Really!?

A bit self-assessed.

Hey, what’s up? It’s Seth from SethPerler.com. I’m an executive function coach out of Boulder, Colorado. Good to see you all. I hope you’re having an awesome day.

Today, I’m going to talk a little bit about Quizlet. Students, Quizlet and similar programs are some of the most ineffective ways to study that I’ve ever seen. Now, is it better than not studying at all? Yes. And I respect the company because they have tried to create a product that helps students study in a better way.

But let me tell you about my experience with it.

I have worked with a lot of students who use Quizlet, and what I find is that it just isn’t very effective. It feels like you’re learning. It looks like you’re learning. But you’re actually learning at a snail’s pace.

Essentially, Quizlet helps with something called rote memory. Rote memory is simply memorization. You’re not integrating information, you’re not connecting ideas, you’re just memorizing. For some teachers or classes, memorization may be necessary. So students create Quizlet cards, review them, and use the percentages and progress trackers to see how well they’re doing.

What I see my students doing is clicking through card after card with glazed-over eyes, repeating the information again and again. But it’s meaningless memory. You’re not creating meaning, and you’re not connecting what you’re learning to anything you’ve previously learned. Again, it’s just memorization.

First, it’s pretty meaningless. Second, it’s very rote. Third, it’s inefficient.

Imagine I wanted to build bigger biceps, but instead of using a 10-pound, 20-pound, or 30-pound weight, I used a pen. I sit there curling that pen over and over again, trying to get stronger. I could do a million curls with that pen, and it wouldn’t accomplish much.

That’s kind of what Quizlet is like. You’re repeating, repeating, repeating—flashcard after flashcard after flashcard. It’s like exercising with a tiny pen. Eventually, you’ll memorize some information, but you’re not truly connecting ideas or developing deeper understanding.

Now, if Quizlet is genuinely working for you, then ignore this entire video. Don’t listen to me at all. But I would encourage you to ask yourself honestly: Is this really a useful use of my time?

Here’s what I recommend instead.

I want my students to spend less time studying while getting more out of their studying. I want you to be free. I want you to finish studying, truly understand the material, and then move on to the things you enjoy.

First, if you’re going to make flashcards, use real flashcards. Grab some index cards and draw all over them. Write the concept or term you’re trying to learn, and then fill the card with drawings, symbols, colors, and visual connections. I love those four-color pens. Make your cards colorful, visual, and connected to things you already know.

If you spend time turning a flashcard into a little piece of art, you’ll remember it much more effectively. I promise you that during a test or quiz, you’ll be able to close your eyes and visualize the images you drew. You’ll remember the connections you created, and you’ll recall the concepts much faster.

Second, the best way to learn something is to teach it.

One of the best ways to do that is by having study partners. Study with your parents, a friend, or a group of friends. Make it fun. Joke around, eat some food, discuss the material, and teach each other. Learning becomes much more powerful when you’re explaining concepts to someone else.

Third, learn the material more deeply in the first place.

When you’re relying on flashcards, Quizlet, or rote memorization, you’re skating on thin ice. Your understanding is shallow. Instead, get more engaged in class. Ask questions. Explore the content further. Learn why things work, not just what the answers are.

The deeper your understanding, the less you’ll need to rely on memorization.

So those are my three recommendations:

1. Make visual flashcards.

2. Study with partners and teach the material.

3. Learn the material more deeply from the beginning.

Anyway, that’s my little rant about programs like Quizlet.

The goal is to finish studying more efficiently so that you can spend more time doing the things you actually enjoy. I want you to have more freedom, more fun, and more value from the time you spend studying.

Again, my name is Seth Perler. I’m an executive function coach from Boulder, Colorado.

Subscribe to my website, SethPerler.com, for weekly updates. Subscribe on YouTube right here. Share my work if you appreciate what I’m doing—I always appreciate it when people share my content.

Have a fantastic day, and I’ll see you next time.