As facilitators, one of our most important roles is to help learners remember and apply key concepts. In Lesson 4 of the #Learning2Code programme — Making Connections — our learners explore crocodile leads, circuits, pins, inputs, outputs, and how electricity interacts with the BBC micro:bit. These are hands-on, practical skills, but they also rely heavily on understanding key vocabulary and concepts.

A great way to reinforce these ideas? Flashcards through FLIPPITY!!!.

Why Flashcards Work

Flashcards aren’t just for memorising definitions. They:

• Encourage active recall — pulling information from memory strengthens understanding.
• Promote spaced repetition — revisiting material over time helps cement it.
• Are easy to use for quick warm-up or recap activities.
• Can be created by learners themselves, which builds ownership and deeper engagement.

What to Include

For Lesson 4, your flashcards should focus on:

• Key vocabulary: e.g. input, output, analog, digital, conductor, insulator, voltage, short circuit, crocodile leads, GND.
• Concepts: How circuits work, the difference between open and closed circuits, why we use colour coding for wires.
• Practical safety notes: Why 3V and GND should not be directly connected, the purpose of the boot, etc.

Example Card Front:
Q: What is a closed circuit?
Example Card Back:
A: An unbroken path where electrons can flow.

Example Card Front:
Q: What is the purpose of the GND pin?
Example Card Back:
A: It completes an electrical circuit as the negative connection.

Action Step for This Week:
All ITEs — create a Lesson 4 Flashcard Set with at least 25 cards using the vocabulary and concepts in the “Making Connections” section. Bring these to your next session so we can share, test, and refine them together.