What we do today:

Pocket Prep is built on the basic principle that practice and repetition solidify new knowledge and long-term retention. Drilling questions is really the backbone of what we do!

Pocket Prep can be accessed on the web or mobile. Research studies have shown that changing study locations can boost long-term retention and recall. So, if students take advantage of our mobile app and study from anywhere, they are actually more likely to retain what they learn, versus if they always study in the same location. Our mobile app also allows them to study on the go, which is crucial for people with busy lives (like those who are working multiple jobs, enrolled in courses, etc.).

Your students can study in small doses of 10-question quizzes, supporting microlearning, a method that breaks down learning into small, digestible units.

Chunking is another technique for organizing similar information into "chunks" to make it easier to remember. Students can incorporate chunking when they focus on one subject at a time in our quiz mode, Level Up.

Interleaving, where different subjects are mixed together, is achieved when taking a Quick 10 or Build Your Own quiz with multiple subjects selected. Mixing different types of problems or subjects forces the brain to continually retrieve and apply different concepts, which enhances learning and adaptability.

Retrieval practice is the method of recalling information from memory without prompts. We incorporate retrieval practice in the Web version of our Level Up quiz mode, where students are prompted to explain their answers to questions they recently got wrong. This is also referred to as “active recall” or “active retrieval”.

*Note that multiple-choice quizzes are not examples of retrieval because students are prompted to select the answer rather than recall it from memory.

Procrastination is another issue many of us face. Students can avoid procrastination and use the popular Pomodoro Technique in our Timed Quiz mode set to 25 minutes.

Desirable difficulties is a learning theory that suggests that challenge is the key to long-term memory. Your students can introduce challenge into their studying by taking Level Up quizzes, where each level they complete unlocks increasingly difficult questions.

Gamification is a method that seeks to motivate by using elements of game design to maximize enjoyment and engagement in learning. Students can get a taste of gamification in Level Up, where the challenge and achievement of unlocking levels motivate them to keep studying, as well as by tracking their studying streak in the calendar.

Spaced repetition is the practice of introducing time in increasing intervals between study of a particular concept or subject. Research shows that the spacing must be days, not hours, for the concepts to be committed to long-term memory, and that the space between days should increase over time. Students can practice spaced repetition when they utilize study reminders. They can plan to drill a subject every few days, with increased spacing, to commit the knowledge to long-term memory.

*Note, Pocket Prep does not currently have an algorithm that serves questions in a way that simulates spaced repetition.

Learners who regularly assess their understanding and adjust their study approaches retain information more effectively. The Stats tab allows your students to view their progress and performance, including subjects where they may be weak or strong. They can then use that information to adjust their study plan.

Contextual learning and application, where students are tested on the same concept framed in different scenarios, is achieved in our scenario-based questions. Our writers ensure multiple scenarios are used for the same concepts for optimal understanding.

Bloom’s Taxonomy is a widely used and effective tool that promotes meaningful learning and improves critical thinking skills. The framework categorizes learning objectives by levels of complexity and specificity. It ensures that students acquire knowledge and understand how to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create based on what they have learned, leading to deeper and more effective learning experiences.

On select exams in EMS, Medical, and Nursing bundles, we have incorporated Bloom’s Taxonomy to ensure we test each exam topic at various cognitive levels, such as remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, and evaluating.