Anki as Learning Superpower: Computer Science Edition

Just wondering if anyone has tried combining Anki with handwriting for improved retention? (any personal experiments?)

In language learning, memorizing words in a shallow way tends to not be as helpful as memorizing them in a sentence (shallow vs deep encoding). One can try to ankify sentences, but it's too easy to click on the green button and fool oneself that one has mastered the sentence. Anki works great for snippets of atomic knowledge but doesn't work as well for sequential/series knowledge like sentences.

On the other hand, there's another method called the Gold List method which is a pen-and-paper based SRS system which requires writing out complete sentences and testing recall every 2 weeks or so. Pen-and-paper folks like it, but due to the limitations of paper, implementing a proper SRS is far too tedious.

What if one were to use Anki for the SRS part, and handwrite the responses? Handwriting sounds tedious, but I wonder if it helps deepen the encoding? (by forcing reconstruction of the sentence, slowing one down enough to dwell on the form and grammar, as well as adding a physical element to the task)

I tried using Anki but found it far too boring to sustain my interest. Staring at fact flashcards for hours on end just felt like a waste of time.

In my experience it was much more useful and engaging to learn by doing things (creating, writing, experimenting) that the facts were related to - then the most necessary facts would become deeply embedded in my memory, with others at just the right level of vagueness necessary to look up the details if needed.

It really depends on what you're doing. Anki is the perfect tool for memorizing vocabulary in a new language, but it's not a replacement for practicing your writing or other creative endeavors. Each technique has its place.

Well, Anki isn’t meant to be used on its own. You are supposed to be doing those other things and Anki assists. Like if you were using it in a college chemistry course you’d have numerous facts in Anki, but still doing labs and other homework and things to exercise the knowledge. Anki itself is meant to help you remember better, but other things are needed to fully exercise that knowledge in appropriate contexts.

I use it with Spanish, but without conversations with my wife and others or trying to read Spanish language content it would be a useless exercise on its own.

Pro tip: review flash cards while taking a bio break instead of social media, etc.