Overview

The Training Cards feature in CrazyGuessr offers an interactive way to improve your GeoGuessr knowledge through spaced repetition and active recall. Each Training Card is a mini-exercise that helps users memorize and internalize tips related to GeoGuessr locations, street view clues, and regional identifiers.

When a user clicks on the Training Cards button near a tip, a modal window opens to present a random flashcard from the relevant training set. The flashcard shows the front side of the card, which contains the challenge, and the user has to guess the answer before revealing the back side. Once the answer is revealed, the user provides personal feedback on their performance.

Card Structure

Here’s a breakdown of the flashcard interface:

1. Top Left: Statistics

   • Best Streak: The user's longest streak of correct answers during the current session.
   • Correct Answers: The number of correct answers given in the session.
   • Wrong Answers: The number of wrong answers given in the session.

2. Top Right: Close Button

   • Note that this will NOT reset your session! You can keep going as long as you don't leave the page.

3. Middle: Challenge/Answer

   • Front (Challenge): The information or image the user needs to study.
   • Back (Answer): The correct answer to the challenge, shown after the user clicks the "Reveal" button.

4. Bottom: Action Buttons

   • On the front side, the user will see a Reveal Button to check the answer.
   • On the back side, the user will see feedback buttons: Wrong, Suspend, and Correct. These are used to track how well the user performed on that particular card.

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How It Works

Training Cards are designed to help users reinforce their knowledge through regular, randomized exercises. Here’s how the system operates:

Sessions

Each training session is temporary and resets once the user either closes the page. This means that:

• All statistics (best streak, correct and wrong answers) are reset with every new session.
• No long-term tracking of user performance is stored across sessions, focusing the user on short bursts of learning.

Card Selection Algorithm

At the beginning of a session, each card starts with an equal probability of being selected, meaning every card in the set has a weight of 1. As users provide personal feedback after viewing a card, the algorithm adjusts the weight of each card based on the following principles:

• Wrong Answer: If the user marks their answer as wrong, the weight of the card doubles (weight*2). This makes the card more likely to be shown again, reinforcing weak areas.
• Suspend: If the user clicks suspend, the card’s weight is set to 0, meaning it won’t appear again in that session. This is useful for cards the user feels are irrelevant or unhelpful at the moment.
• Correct Answer: Marking a card correct halves its weight (weight*0.5), meaning it’s less likely to appear but still has a chance to show up later in the session to ensure retention.

By dynamically adjusting the chances of seeing each card based on performance, the system learns which concepts the user struggles with and focuses on reinforcing weaker areas.

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Science Behind It

The Training Cards system is built upon principles of cognitive science to enhance the user’s ability to retain information effectively:

Active Recall

Active recall is the process of retrieving information from memory without cues. When users see the front of the card and try to remember the back (the answer), they are forced to actively recall the information. This method has been proven to strengthen memory retention far more effectively than passive review methods like rereading or simple exposure.

Spaced Repetition

While CrazyGuessr doesn’t employ a long-term spaced repetition system (like Anki), the card-selection algorithm simulates some aspects of it within each session. By increasing the frequency of difficult cards and reducing the repetition of mastered cards, users are more likely to overcome weak points without being overwhelmed by easy material.

Feedback and Learning

The personal feedback loop (Wrong, Suspend, Correct) not only allows the algorithm to adjust card weights but also gives users a sense of control over their learning. This feedback mechanism is crucial for metacognition—the process of thinking about one’s own learning—which enhances retention by making users more aware of what they do and don’t know.

Focused, High-Impact Sessions

By resetting with every new session, the system encourages short, focused learning bursts, which have been shown to be more effective than cramming. These short sessions minimize fatigue and make it easy for users to learn more in less time.

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Best Practices for Using Training Cards

1. Use Regularly: Engage with the Training Cards after studying new tips. The cards are a great way to turn passive knowledge into active memory, so consistent use is key.
2. Reflect on Mistakes: Don’t rush through the feedback. If you get a card wrong, reflect on why that happened and try to visualize the correct answer for the future.
3. Personalize Your Feedback: The feedback buttons allow you to guide the algorithm’s focus—use them thoughtfully. Suspend cards that you know won’t be useful to you for now and mark correct answers confidently to make room for more challenging cards.
4. Take Breaks: Since the sessions reset when you leave the page, use this as an opportunity to take breaks between intense learning sessions. This helps prevent burnout and ensures better long-term retention.

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The Training Cards system in CrazyGuessr is a powerful tool for improving your GeoGuessr skills. By combining flashcard methodology with an adaptive card selection algorithm and user feedback, the system offers a fun, effective way to learn and remember complex geographical information.