Flash Cards!

Flash Cards!

Studying Isn’t the Problem — How You’re Studying Is

Hey guys — Stefan here.

I was inspired to write this because I see the same struggle over and over again. Not just with my own students, but across aviation training as a whole — and honestly, in myself too.

Many of us are great at learning skills. Stick-and-rudder? Flows? Landings? No problem. We learn best by doing.

But when it comes to V-speeds, aerodynamics, systems, and regulations, things fall apart.

You write it down.
You nod along.
And then… you never really learn it.

A week later, it’s gone.

Let’s talk about why that happens — and what actually works.

Why Notes Alone Don’t Stick

Taking notes feels productive. It looks like studying.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Re-reading notes is one of the least effective ways to learn.

Why? Because it’s passive. Your brain isn’t being challenged to retrieve information — it’s just recognizing it on the page and saying, “Yeah, that looks familiar.”

Recognition is not mastery.

And if we’re honest — most students don’t even re-read their notes consistently anyway.

The Game-Changer: Flash Cards (Yes, Really)

Every one of my students has heard me say it:

“Make flash cards. I know it’s old-school, but…”

Here’s the why.Flash cards force active recall — your brain has to search for the answer. That struggle is exactly what builds long-term memory.

The key isn’t just making flash cards — it’s making them from your notes:

  • Clean

  • Simple

  • One concept per card

That process alone deepens learning. The review afterward locks it in.

Flash Cards Aren’t Just for Notes

This part is important.

Flash cards shouldn’t only come from the notes you take during our ground lessons.

They should also come from:

  • Chapters I assign you to read

  • Sporty’s, King Schools, or other app-based study tools

  • Videos you watch

  • Missed oral questions

  • Things you “kind of know” but hesitate on

If you watched a Sporty’s video or completed a King Schools lesson and thought,

“Yeah, that makes sense”

…that’s your cue to make flash cards.

If you don’t convert that information into active recall, it stays temporary.

Watching a video is input.
Flash cards are training.

The same applies to apps like Finer Points or any other guided study aide. Those tools are great — but only if you extract the concepts and test yourself on them later.

If I assign a chapter:

  • Read it

  • Identify key concepts, definitions, and limits

  • Turn those into flash cards

That’s how assigned reading turns into retained knowledge.

If you’re using Sporty’s, King Schools, Finer Points, or any other app and not turning that material into flash cards, you’re leaving a huge amount of learning on the table.

Retrieval Practice: The Secret Sauce of Learning

Study after study shows that retrieval practice (forcing your brain to pull information from memory) dramatically outperforms:

  • Re-reading

  • Highlighting

  • Passive review

If your study method doesn’t make your brain work a little — it’s probably not working at all.

Two Tools I Strongly Recommend

1. The Leitner Box Method

This is a simple, brilliant system for spaced repetition using flash cards.

👉 Watch this short video (worth your time):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWnLZGjgRpA&t=33s

Yes, it’s from a professor of law — but learning is learning and it definitely applies.

2. Brainscape (Digital Flash Cards Done Right)

If paper flash cards aren’t your thing, Brainscape is the best digital alternative I’ve found — much better than Quizlet.

👉 Quick explanation from the founder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn_d2IxZAD8

You can rate your confidence on each card, and the app adapts intelligently.  Almost like an integrated Leitner Box Method.

The Feynman Technique: The Final Test

Here’s the ultimate check:

Can you teach it?

Explain a concept out loud — to a friend, your spouse, your dog, or an imaginary student.

Then ask:

  • Why does this work?

  • What happens if this changes?

If you can teach it simply, you own it.

If you can’t… you’ve just identified exactly what to study next.

That’s a win.

Final Thought (Read This Twice)

Flying isn’t just about manipulating the controls — it’s about understanding why the airplane does what it does.  It’s about making good decisions based on understanding and knowing how to manage risk — what we call ADM (aeronautical decision making).

Ground knowledge isn’t SEPARATE from flying skill.
It’s what makes you confident, safe, and employable.

So do yourself a favor:

  • Stop passively reviewing

  • Start forcing your brain to work

  • Make flash cards

  • Teach the material

You’ll spend less time studying and get far better results.

And yes — I will ask you about it next lesson 😉

— Stefan
CFI / CFII / MEI
Zulu2992 ✈️

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