SRS with simple "right wrong" grading? Always 100-word tests?

[Selek]

Until recently, I'd been scoring my flashcard reviews using Pleco's 1-6 range. If I reviewed twice a day, usually the reviews would be under 100 words each.

When I got a new phone and reinstalled Pleco, I decided to go with the option that simply asks whether I got the card right or wrong. I made this choice to cut down on the time I spend reviewing flashcards. I've set my max words per session to 100. But now every time I review, I get 100 words to review, even if I've reviewed a couple times a day already. So I feel like I'm getting more words to review, kinda undermining my goal -- to spend a bit less time.

Maybe I've just fallen behind? Or does the SRS throw words at me more frequently in "right-wrong" mode? Thanks in advance.

 

[mikelove]

Are you sure you're using it in spaced repetition mode? (check Card Selection and make sure the card selection system isn't 'random')

 

[Selek]

Are you sure you're using it in spaced repetition mode? (check Card Selection and make sure the card selection system isn't 'random')

By golly, you're right -- I had it set to Random. Maybe that's the default with a new installation of Pleco? Anyway, I just chose Repetition-Spaced, and it still gave me my max of 100, but maybe that's right for the first test. Thanks!

Edit: Now I'm curious whether Pleco 4.0 will give us more info on SRS -- in particular, when the next review will be. Anki does this by default, telling me that if I choose 'hard', I'll see it again in 3 days, 'easy' in 10 days, etc. I understand Pleco 4.0 will have some way of harmonizing my current deck with the new SRS system, but I'm still reluctant to mess with it, as I've spent so much time developing my deck.

 

[mikelove]

Yes, 4.0 has interval previews, at least for some profile types. But our new default SRS system uses simple fixed steps instead of algorithmic intervals anyway - with cards in “review” simply coming back on a loop rather than a card-specific schedule - since we’re not convinced that algorithmic SRS is beneficial for long term memorization of vocabulary in a language that you’re also interacting with regularly in other ways.

 

[Selek]

That's good to hear. I have no expertise at all about SRS algorithms, and what you're planning sounds reasonable to me. In fact I'm a little skeptical of the whole flashcard enterprise: I think I retain stuff better just by reading, listening and speaking a lot. But I do find flashcards kind of fun in short doses, or as something to do in 15-minute chunks while waiting at the dentist's office or relaxing in the afternoon. I've never used flashcards for the other languages I've studied, but Chinese has all these characters to learn...

I can try 4.0's beta side-by-side with my current Pleco, right? Seems like nothing to lose by trying it.

 

[mikelove]

Thanks!

Yes, you can try them side by side. (you install a separate 'legacy' app that's exactly like the current one, which all your data migrates to, while the beta replaces the original app)