Even as StudyArcade version 0.0.1 is making its way to iPhones everywhere, I am already working on version 0.0.2. There are a number of features and topics I'd like to address with this latest version.
First, I'd just like to point out that if you have the application, you can use the "Contact" button in the "Help" section to contact me directly. Any suggestions submitted will be seriously considered. Of course, I also read all comments posted on this blog.
Next, some people have asked if synchronizing with Anki works both ways - that is, is progress made on the iPhone recorded on the Anki server? The answer with version 0.0.1 is no, but with 0.0.2 I expect full synchronization to be a reality.
Also high on the agenda: * Media: pictures and sounds associated with facts (flashcards) are not currently fully implemented. This will be completed in version 0.0.2
* Importing Facts: There will be a number of options for importing facts from other sources, including a variety of "prepackaged" packs of facts to download. For example, if you're studying for the standard Chinese test (HSK), there will be packages of HSK flashcards available for download.
* Further integration with websites: I'm looking to integrate with more websites for synchronizing and downloading facts. I'm mainly looking at flashcard databases, such as FlashcardExchange.com
* Fact Selection Techniques: At least one more fact selection technique will be available; possibly two.
* Another game: StudyArcade will slowly grow with more and more games added. One more simple game will be added in the near future, if not in 0.0.2 then in version 0.0.3
If you have any other suggestions or requests for features, please leave a comment or contact me using the application.
The projected release date for version 0.0.2 is the 2nd weekend of February.
By popular request, I've submitted the StudyArcade application to the Cydia installer in MMi' repository. We're still waiting on the Apple AppStore confirmation for now.
If you're technically-savvy, you can install the application yourself right now. You'll need a Jailbroken iPhone / iPod touch with SSH installed. For more information on how to use SSH, check out the gizmodo post here; I'm going to assume you know how to transfer files to your iPhone and how to execute SSH commands.
SSH to your iPhone / iPod Touch and copy StudyArcade.app to the /Applications folder
Execute the following command using SSH: chmod 775 /Applications/StudyArcade.app/StudyArcade
Restart your device or respring SpringBoard. StudyArcade should appear!
I look forward to hearing feedback!
Troubleshooting
If you manually installed the application and it crashes before even showing the main screen (it begins to open then immediately crashes), the problem is almost certainly that you forgot to execute the chmod statement. If you're sure you did this, please contact me using the "Email Us" link (to the right) and we will work through the problem.
Here's a video showing how to install the application:
This QuickStart guide will help you get started using StudyArcade for the iPhone / iPod Touch. For release information, check out this entry.
StudyArcade, at its heart, is a Flashcard application; it is also much much more. Flashcards are referred to as "Facts." After opening the application, pressing the "Knowledge" bubble opens a list of facts.
Creating a new fact is accomplished by pressing the plus button or clicking any of the facts, which opens the Edit Fact page. Facts can contain a topic, phrase, definition, pronunciation, part of speech, tags. Additionally, you can select a picture or record a sound file.
Choosing the magnifying glass on the Knowledge page (instead of the plus button) opens the filter selection menu. Filters limit the facts which are shown in the knowledge. Choosing "Create New Filter" or the blue arrow next to any filter will open a page which allows you to customize which facts are shown. Clicking on a filter will apply it.
The settings page (accessed from the home page) allows you to enable one or more synchronization services. These are remote services (websites) which you may download facts from using StudyArcade. There are also a number of Fact Selection Techniques which are available. Selection Techniques determine how StudyArcade chooses which facts to study. In other words, "Test Cramming" is conceptually different than reviewing old words.
The play page (accessed from the home page) allows you to select from the available games (at present, only a simple Flashcard application is available). Clicking on the Flashcards game will first open the settings page. There are a number of options available, including customization opens (which side of the card the text is on vs. the definition). Also, you may select a filter to use, so that you only study facts of a certain type (just like the filters used in the Knowledge screen).
The flashcard (front and back) are depicted here. When on the back of the flashcard, you are prompted to to specify how hard you felt the fact to be. This data is used by the Selection Techniques in order to choose cards in the future.
There you have it - an easy approach to studying flashcards with the iPhone / iPod Touch.
In the article after this one I want to begin talking about classifications of memory (there are 3 or 4, depending on how exactly you look at it). Understanding the basic types can help you to be more aware of your learning. Before we move on, though, I wanted to stop and look at the purpose of understanding your own learning process. Of great importance in learning is something called metacognition. To steal directly from wikipedia without any shame:
Different fields define metacognition very differently. Metacognition variously refers to the study of memory-monitoring and self-regulation, meta-reasoning, consciousness/awareness and auto-consciousness/self-awareness. In practice these capacities are used to regulate one's own cognition, to maximize one's potential to think, learn ...
I suggest that knowing the classifications of memory (as well as many other things which can be understood through the study of learning) can actively help your metacognition. In short, whenever you are actively assessing your own state of knowledge with regards to a topic you are learning, you are using metacognition to help your learning. Research has shown a connection between experts in many (any) field, and forms of metacognition. A chess master who puts himself in the shoes of his opponent to evaluate himself or a computer programmer who talks to himself are examples of this. Folks called Metacognologists even believe that this ability to metacognate is a unique ability to humanity.
In many cases, it is as if the very act of expressing something can assist the human mind. It is interesting that experts seem to naturally develop these habits within their field. Everybody is an expert at something, and I am sure if you look close enough at your own life you will find a way in which you use metacognition. Understanding the importance and use of metacognition can allow us to harness its power and use it purposefully. In a sense, the whole thing is very Zen. We're actively choosing which neurons connections to foster, and which to prune. We are selectively reinforcing specific pathways within the mind.
During the early stages of learning, I believe metacognition is most difficult. The pure quantity of knowledge seems overwhelming, and its easy to find ourselves drowning in a sea of unknowns. The best remedy, however, is to get "the big picture," and attempt to look at the entire sum of knowledge which we wish to learn. Instead of just diving in, the solution is to collect all information about a topic before actually starting into the topic.
Languages can seem immensely daunting (both computer languages as well as the spoken variety), but they can still be broken into fundamental components (variables, conditions, functions, loops, etc. for programming and vocabulary, grammar, idioms, formality level, etc. for spoken languages). This should already start making the topic seem less scary. Repeated use of this process (breaking down the categories further) can help to conceptualize the difficulties even more precisely. Eventually, the goal is to be able to evaluate a situation with regards to each of these categories. When you are able to note something that you did not know and file it for later study without breaking stride with whatever you are doing, you have reached a key point in metacognition.
Your own metacognition technique(s) can come in any form you choose, but if you consciously apply it to what you are attempting to learn, you can improve your results.
Some examples might be...
Keep a diary documenting your progress whilst studying. If you cannot find something interesting to talk about for each day that you study, then you need to pay closer attention to your studies.
Take your studying out of the classroom and into the real world. Use it in some practical way, such as speaking a language to a friend, a native speaker, or maybe even immersing yourself for a period of time. Don't be afraid of failure; instead, assess the areas you did both well on and poor on, and tailor your studies accordingly.
Use a fun technique to conceptualize your progress. Knowing your learning modality (Learning Part 2) can also help with this. As a visual-dominant gamer, I have what amounts to a stack of progress bars in my head. Every time I read a sentence in a different language, I am assessing it with regards to many categories (grammar, vocabulary, scenario, tone of conversation, etc.) in order to better identify my own skill level.
Join a forum or a community of some sort to discuss your learning.
If you want to discuss your learning with someone, you're always welcome to message me at blog@inZania.com I'd love to hear about the progress of others.
Next time we'll take a look at the types of of memory (as I mentioned), and I might even promote one or two free and open-source learning programs, for those of you looking for a new way to study.
