Ever wondered how to make science or math flash cards for students to use with their mobile devices? This typically comes about because finding science and math flash cards specific to a particular concept, topic area, or unit is difficult. Often, when appropriate flash cards are found, they are too expensive or need modification. Technological advances have uncomplicated the process of making tailor made free flash cards for students.
How to create a set of content specific science or math flash cards begins with creating presentations using Microsoft’s PowerPoint or Apple’s iWork Keynote presentation software. Of course there are a few tricks and tips in the process and these are described in the following procedures. Another point to consider is these flash cards can be used on most mobile devices such as iPods or MP3 players with picture viewing capabilities.
Tips and Tricks: Creating Flash Cards like a Pro
When creating a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation for science or math class, there are several important elements of slide preparation which must be considered. These aspects are critical to ensuring flash cards are easy to read when viewing on iPods. These important elements include:
- using a fonts such as Tahoma, Arial, or New Times Roman. These fonts results in more readable clear and precise lettering when students read the flash cards.
- using a large font size for better viewing when the letters reduced to fit on an mobile device screen. Ideal font sizes range from 48 to 60, depending on font style selected.
- keeping backgrounds on slides simple, such as light solid colors. Busy backgrounds make reading difficult.
- limiting the amount of information contained on slides. Too much information results in flash cards too busy to read effectively.
When ready to convert PowerPoint presentation slides into flash cards use the following steps.
- New Folder – create a new folder in location desired in computer and with appropriate name.
- Save As – select JPEG format.
- Export – select “Every Slide” if prompted to select every slide of current slide only.
- Open Folder – containing the new JPEG images just converted from PowerPoint Slides. These images are now flash cards.
- Renumbering Images – each image is numbered “Slide 1, Slide 2, etc.” To ensure each image remains in the proper numerical sequence, renumber the first nine slides to “Slide 01, Slide 02, etc.” If this step is not completed, images are displayed “Slide 1, Slide 11, etc.” Slide 2 through Slide 8 will appear out of order.
Keynote: Tricks for Converting Slides into Flash Cards
When ready to convert Keynote slides into flash cards use the following steps.
- New Folder – create a new folder in location desired in computer and with appropriate name.
- Select File Export – then select the “Images” icon in the next window and then select “All.”
- Format – select JPG variable quality, then next.
- Save As – give the set of slides, now flash cards, a name and save them in the new folder.
Create a zip file containing all the flashcards for a specific topic, so students are not required to download each flash card separately. Zip file software is free and available on the web. It is used to compress or reduce multiple files into a more manageable size for ease of downloading or uploading. This is accomplished by:
- PC – right click on folder containing flash cards and select “Send To – Compressed (zipped) Folder”
- Mac – click on folder containing flash cards and select “Create Archive of – Folder Name”
- Unzip the file containing the flash cards and save them in appropriately named folder.
- Use iTunes to select the folder and select all.
- Click on sync button and iTunes will optimize the flashcards for viewing on the mobile device and then upload to the iPod.
Teachers can use these how to procedures for creating flash cards, which are specifically tailored to classroom instruction such as science facts. Students can use these flash cards for a multitude of reasons such as studying for tests, remembering the specific order of things, or for completing math practice problems. The use of flash cards is another technology tip for use in the classroom.
Students can also create flash cards for class projects and then be used to help other students learn specific science or math concepts covered by the projects. The big advantage for students is the ability to use these flash cards to study their math facts or science facts anytime, anywhere using their mobile device.
David R. Wetzel - Dr. David Wetzel's experience includes more than 25 years in continuing, adult, and teacher education.
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