A couple of weeks ago, my friend was telling me how they had been getting eye strain from studying digital flashcards for one of their classes, and how they wished, in their own words, that they could have “flashcards that talked to you.” I did a bit of research on this topic, and suggested creating custom flashcards with Amazon Alexa as a way to help with studying. I tested this with my friend, and am excited to report that the custom flashcards worked great and helped them with studying. Here are my tips for creating custom flashcards with Amazon Alexa, using a custom skill blueprint.
WHAT ARE ALEXA SKILL BLUEPRINTS?
Alexa Skill Blueprints are a free official Amazon tool that allow users to create their own custom Amazon Alexa skills. There is no coding required and the finished skills are linked to the user’s Amazon account for use across all of their devices.
Custom skills can be created by filling in text boxes or selecting options from a drop-down menu based on prompts, empowering users to personalize skills within a matter of minutes; information shared with the skill stays private and is not added to the public Amazon Alexa Skill website.
Alexa Skill Blueprints require users to have an Amazon Echo device, but does not require Amazon Prime or any other subscriptions— I have an Echo Dot and love it!
Related links
- Alexa Skill Blueprints (amazon.com)
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smart Speakers
- How To Create A Custom Dorm Skill With Amazon Alexa
About the flashcard skill
The Flashcards skill lets users create their own structured flash card sets for studying— the cards are read out loud and users answer questions with their voice. Users can create several different flashcards sets and edit them from the Alexa Skill Blueprint website by changing the questions/answers used, or grouping flashcards by topic. The default command for the Flashcards skill is “Alexa, open my flashcards.”
To create a new flashcard set, log into the Alexa Skill Blueprints website with the Amazon account connected to the Alexa device. From there, select the flashcards skill and then select the “Make Your Own” link to create the custom skill.
Related links
- Alexa Skill Blueprints Flashcards (amazon.com)
- Brainfuse Online Tutoring and Low Vision Accessibility
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Study For Exams
- The Best Study Tips For Low Vision Students
- The Best Study Tips For Auditory Learners
- Choosing A Tutor For Low Vision Students
Creating flashcards
After selecting the “Make Your Own” button, users are taken to a page where they can begin customizing their skill, starting with the name of the topic that will be announced when opening the flashcard set. From there, users can add new cards to the set by writing a term and definition along with a hint, with the term being the “question” and the definition being the “answer” the user will say out loud. Users can add unlimited flashcards and edit terms/definitions as needed.
Related links
Review Mode vs Test Mode
There are two different options for reviewing custom flashcards with Amazon Alexa- review mode and test mode. In review mode, Alexa randomizes the list of terms and reads the terms and definitions a set number of times until all terms are read out loud. In test mode, Alexa randomizes the list of terms and reads them out loud, with the user providing the definition or asking for a hint. This goes on until all of the terms are read, and then users are provided with a score at the end.
There are a few different options for customizing the creation of custom flashcards with Amazon Alexa, including:
- Reading a welcome message and playing a sound effect
- Sharing a random encouraging message
- Customizing the amount of times a card is read in review mode
- Reading an exit message
Related links
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Read
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Write
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You Listen To History
- How Amazon Alexa Can Help You With Art
Potential uses
As someone who processes things externally and likes to talk things out, I really like having the option to talk through flashcard sets and recite answers out loud, especially since this doesn’t require me to look at a screen— I can close my eyes and study before bed, or answer a few questions when doing something else or just relaxing in my room. Some other ways I have used custom flashcards with Amazon Alexa include:
- Memorizing dance terminology, which was helpful when taking a dance class/swing dancing lessons on campus, because I could get information about dance terms while moving around my room
- Preparing for a certification exam or other standardized test— I like using this strategy for practicing math problems because I can work through problems on my dry-erase board
- Learning how to use a new device or software— I created a custom flashcard skill when I was learning to use a screen magnification program.
- Providing a study option for students with print disabilities that doesn’t require precise spelling or looking at a screen. One student I worked with used their Echo Dot to study anatomy terms because they frequently took exams with a screen reader and benefitted from hearing terms read out loud.
Related links
- Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
- Microsoft Office Specialist Certification and Low Vision
- Ten Information Technology Skills Every College Student Needs
- Dance Classes and Low Vision
- How To Describe Dance Choreography Videos For Visually Impaired
- Mainstream Educational Technology Certifications For Teachers of the Visually Impaired
More tips for creating custom audio flashcards with Amazon Alexa
- Want more study tips for auditory learners? Read The Best Study Tips For Auditory Learners
- Sometimes, I will use Quizlet to locate flashcard sets and then export the text so I can add them to an Amazon Alexa skill. Learn more about Quizlet in How I Use Quizlet With Low Vision
- Even though I say answers out loud when studying with these audio flashcards, I don’t typically use a scribe when taking a test. Learn more about how I take tests in class in How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom
Published December 3, 2019. Updated April 2023