The aim of this study was to investigate the effects web-based multimedia annotated vocabulary learning in context model and in spaced repetitions on vocabulary retention of intermediate level English language learners. The research study encompassed two main faces which was related to development of the material and implementation of it. In WEBVOCLE, which stands for web-based vocabulary learning material, the contextual presentation of vocabulary were enriched with audible online dictionary, pictures and animations / target words were repeated by the learners with interactive exercises, such as gap-filling, cloze and multiple choice test, games, puzzles, in &lsquo / spaced repetitions&rsquo / . In the study both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through attitude questionnaires, checklists, interviews, focus group interviews and through vocabulary retention tests. The qualitative data were analyzed according to qualitative data analysis techniques and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS statistics software. Feedback obtained from the learners demonstrated that they not only developed a positive attitude toward English vocabulary language learning but also increased their vocabulary retention level of the target vocabulary through spaced repetitions.

Kanji, the Chinese characters adopted to write the Japanese language, is often mentioned as one of the most difficult aspects of mastering said language. This is especially said about people from outside the Sinosphere i.e. PRC, Taiwan, North and South Korea, Japan and Vietnam. In the following thesis 12 students studying the Japanese language at Swedish universities were interviewed about their experiences when it comes to learning and being taught about kanji. A chapter summarizing some of the research that is relevant to this thesis is also included. Topics touched upon in this and the result chapter include the desire for more structured approach to kanji learning based on breaking down the characters into elemental components, spaced repetition (SRS), mnemonics.

There are a lot of spaced repetition system based online learning services available nowadays, but none of them are popular or widely accepted as a good means for studying. The problem of these services is, instead of exploiting and utilizing the possibility of modern technology, they simply brought this old school learning method to the web as an application with exactly the same experience as one could have with textbooks and flash cards. This master’s thesis project concerns Sharplet, a spaced repetition system based web service, who is trying to stand out by offering some features that none of the other comparable services have. One of these features is the integration of YouTube video clips, so that in addition to text and pictures, study materials may now include both audio and video material. This thesis begins by reviews spaced repetition systems in general, and then focuses on some of the existing services and how to provide a better service. Next the thesis describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a new service that includes both audio and video content. The main practical result of this master’s thesis project is a working prototype audio and video enabled spaced repetition based service. Unfortunately, the actual performance of this prototype is unacceptable, hence there is a need to improve its performance before it can be integrated with the production spaced repetition system. / Det finns en hel del repetitionssystem baserat online- lärande tjänster som finns idag, men ingen av dem är populära och allmänt accepterat som ett bra sätt för att studera. Problemet med dessa tjänster är, i stället för att utnyttja och utnyttja möjligheten till modern teknik, de helt enkelt fört din gamla inlärningsmetod för webben som ett program med exakt samma upplevelse som man kunde ha med läroböcker och flash-kort. Denna magisteruppsats projektet gäller Sharplet, ett repetitionssystem baserat webbtjänst, som försöker sticka ut genom att erbjuda vissa funktioner som ingen av de andra jämförbara tjänster har. En av dessa funktioner är att integrera YouTube- videoklipp, så att förutom text och bilder, samt ljud och video både är nu tillgänglig för läromedel. Detta examensarbete recensioner repetitionssystemi allmänhet, fokuserar sedan på några befintliga tjänster och hur man kan ge bättre service. Den största utmaningen kommer att undersöka YouTube API och studera användarbeteendeför att ge en bättre användarupplevelse. Det viktigaste resultatet av detta examensarbete är en fungerande prototyp av en ljud -och video aktiverat repetitionsbaserad tjänst. Tyvärr är det faktiska utförandet av denna prototyp oacceptabelt, därför finns det ett behov av att förbättra sina resultat innan den kan integreras med tillverkningen fördelade upprepning systemet.

This master thesis investigates the utility of spaced repetition learning in engineering education, focusing on knowledge retention for students. The study involved the development of an application with a Nest.js backend integrated with a MySQL database and a Next.js frontend, designed with human-computer interaction (HCI) principles to ensure usability and user-friendliness. Surveys were conducted to gather feedback on HCI and spaced repetition learning, although the limited number of participants affected the statistical significance of the findings. Initial responses indicate that the platform is perceived as easy to navigate but lack engagement due to its simplistic nature. The absence of distracting elements is noted, yet issues with font size consistency have been identified. Further feedback suggests that students are open to spaced repetition learning techniques. The study draws on previous research demonstrating the effectiveness of spaced repetition learning in enhancing long-term memory retention. The thesis aims to address the challenge of rapid memory erosion associated with traditional massed learning approaches. Further research is recommended to gather more substantial data and refine the platform for improved usability and effectiveness in engineering education.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the effect on learning Chinese characters for learners of Chinese as foreign language through implementing the unique properties of the Chinese script in a prototype spaced repetition system. Both Chinese radicals and the spacing effect have the potential to positively influence the recall ability of students in learning Chinese characters, however the interaction between the spacing effect and Chinese radicals in spaced repetition system, such as Anki and Mnemosyne, had not been tested. An experimental spaced repetition system prototype was designed and developed to investigate these interactions. Two groups of students learning Chinese as a foreign language at the University of Stellenbosch studied the same list of Chinese characters in which there were both massed and spaced characters present. One group had additional information on Chinese radicals on the flashcard. The students were given an immediate post-test to test their recall of the meaning and pronunciation of the Chinese characters. The results showed a positive trend for the spacing effect in which students had higher scores for spaced characters, but the recall ability between the two groups of students did not change regardless of whether there was information on Chinese radicals or not. The results were surprising considering the potential positive impact of Chinese radicals on recall. The thesis concludes that the presentation of information on Chinese radicals in a spaced repetition system does not necessarily improve the recall ability of the students. The impact of explicit instruction on the role of Chinese radicals in Chinese characters and the ability of the student to apply this knowledge should be considered for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die huidige tesis ondersoek die leer van Chinese karakters deur leerders van Chinees as ‘n vreemde taal deur die unieke eienskappe van die Chinese skrif in ‘n prototipe gespasieërde herhalings sisteem te implementeer. Beide Chinese radikale en die spasiërings effek kan potensieël 'n positiewe invloed hê in die vermoë van studente om Chinese karakters te onthou, maar die interaksie tussen die spasiërings effek en Chinese radikale in gespasieërde herhalings sisteme, soos Anki en Mnemosyne, was tot dusver onbekend. ‘n Eksperimentele gespasieërde herhalings sisteem prototipe was geskep om hierdie interaksie te ondersoek. Twee groepe studente van Chinees as vreemde taal by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch het dieselfde lys karakters gestudeer, waaronder gespasieërde en nie-gespasieërde karakters tuis was. Die twee groepe het verskil deurdat een groep ekstra informasie oor Chinese radikale gehad het op die voorkant van 'n flitskaart. Die studente het dadelik daarna ‘n toets ontvang waar hul die betekenis en uitspraak van die Chinese karakters moes onthou. Die resultate het ‘n positiewe neiging getoon vir die spasiërings effek waar studente hoër punte ontvang het vir gespasieërde karakters, maar die vermoë om die karakters te onthou het nie verskil tussen die twee groepe nie. Die resultate was ‘n verassing juis omdat daar ‘n potensieël positiewe invloed kan onstaan deur die impak van Chinese radikale. Die tesis het gevind dat slegs om informasie oor Chinese radikale te wys in ‘n gespasieërde herhalings sisteem nie noodwendig die vermoë van die student om Chinese karakters te onthou verbeter nie. Die impak van eksplisiete instruksie oor die rol wat Chinese radikale in Chinese karakters speel en die vermoë van die student om hierdie kennis toe te pas hoort verder ondersoek te word.

Growing knowledge in the field of cognitive science can significantly improve the way we learn. Several methods and principles are being repeatedly confirmed by numerous studies as effective for learning. They include spaced repetition, test-enhanced learning, and desirable difficulty principle. With the continual spreading of ICT technologies, diverse software is being developed as well, some of which more and some of which less successfully employs the methods and principles outlined. Memrise, Purpose Games and Drill and Skill, web platforms which are examined in this thesis, belong to this software family. In the first phase, i conducted several interviews with teachers who were using Drill and Skill as part of their science teaching at elementary schools and a junior grammar school (all of them were teaching children approx. 11-15 years old). After this, i worked with a class from a grammar school (age around 16). i made several groups of educational games to help the students practice the topics studied in their biology lessons. Each group of games was reviewed during a group interview. Recordings from these interviews as well as from the interviews with the teachers were transcribed and these transcripts underwent qualitative analysis, which is an important part of the thesis. Drawing on all...