Thoughts about flashcard tools

In this week's lab section, we have tried out different websites for making flashcards. Just as what we have reported as various collaborative groups, although different flashcard tools might have their unique features, they share two primary functions. One is enabling learners to create their own sets of flashcards, and the other one is a common database accessible to the public, which is composed by previously generated flashcards shared by learners across the world. I find both functions, the second one in particular, helpful for language learners in terms of making their own learning material for spaced repetition and saving time by using others' when necessary. In addition, I also found the "quiz" in flashcardmachine (flashcardmachine.com) interesting. After learners have created a set of flashcards, the website would automatically generate a quiz by mingling the content of the flashcards, and the learners can then take the interactive test with instant feedback and grading. Like the flashcard database, the "quiz" demonstrates what technology could help to add to our traditional way of learning and teaching. However, as using flashcards is usually regarded as a type of mechanical drilling, I wonder if someday in the near future, developers of flashcard tools and websites would be able to help compiling and creating more meaningful and communicative drills by making even better use of the databases and embedding more user-friendly multi-media tools, so that flashcards would be used to help second language learners to learn in a collaborative environment more effectively.