How I learnt (almost effortlessly) all the capital cities of Asia ! (Part 3)

If you remember correcty, in the two previous articles, we talked about the necessity of learning by heart, and I presented to you Memrise: a nice online tool to ease this (too often) painful process.

Turning education into a fun experience!

For the third (and last) article of this series, I'll try to point out the key elements which explain why Memrise does such a good job at helping us learn efficiently.

This analysis, derived from the example of Memrise, will provide us with a basis for future thoughts about the main characteristics of online learning.

How does Memrise turn a boring-to-death learning by heart process into an amazingly fun, exciting and addictive experience?

1) It's instantaneous

 

Memrise is a website, which is of course available at any time, from any computer with an Internet browser. Plus, the team has developed a high-end smartphone application which makes the service even more easily accessible.

You have a few spare minutes? (for example when you're stuck in public transportation, waiting or waiting for someone)

Just launch the application and take a 5-minute Spanish vocabulary training session instead of looking at your feet or ogling at these hot chicks waiting for the bus! Your brain will thank you for that. 

 

2) It's customized

 

Ever wanted a personal teacher to help you remember those nasty lists of vocabulary that gave you nightmares back in school?

Someone who'd remember which words you actually have mastered and who'd be able to ask you exactly the words that give you a hard time remembering? Someone who will regularly notify you when it's time to have a training session? Someone who will bark at you when you don't work enough...?

Well, sorry! Memrise wont' bark at you. But it will certainly get to know you and your weaknesses, and help you overcome them very easily.

 

3) It's social and fun

 

Last but not least, Memrise turns learning into a social experience and tries to connect fellow learners together to make the best of the network. You can follow someone (see what lessons they are involved into, compare your score with theirs, etc.). And you can share mems with other users (it's the feature which I like the most!)

My profile: follow me!

Plus, using Memrise is dead simple: just select the right answer in a list or type it using your keyboard. Memrise will give you points for every correct answer and even grant you a badge which indicates how many items you've learnt so far. For example, I worked very hard to gain the Memmoth badge that proves to the world that I have already earned more than 250.000 points. I'm looking forward to reaching the next step!

Conclusion

 

Let's take a step back and look at what words were the most important in the last three paragraphs (they were highlighted in the text): 

 

“available at any time” 

 

This is one of the special features of online learning which makes it particularly appealing: you can learn anywhere, at any time, at your own pace. Don't have time for class today? Nevermind,  you'll just spend more time catching up with the homework tomorrow (even if it's on the week-end, your computer won't take holidays).

 

“personal teacher”

 

Our computers are getting smarter everyday. Today, they have reached a point where they are perfectly able to assist us with simple tasks and even learn from our behavior. Let's use their power!

Why hire (underpaid) teachers to have children repeat tirelessly lists of vocabulary? Let's subcontract this unrewarding work to our computers! Teachers will then have more time with the kids to induce pleasure in learning.

Plus, a computer will be able to record all sorts of statistics regarding the progression of every child and thus will point out to the teacher which kids need a little boost.

 

“social experience”

 

Conventional wisdom has it that learning in group is more effective. That's probably true. We are human beings, and we need to exchange, to communicate with fellow learners. We have lots of things to learn from each other, even if they are not expert!

We'll probably get to talk about this social dimension in more details (when we get to MOOC's), but it will prove to be crucial.

With this three essential remarks (which will provide us with a rock-solid basis for thought) ends this first series of articles.

 

Now you're more than invited to comment! Have you tried Memrise? Do you know any other similar online learning platform? I'd be glad to know what you think.