For October, I'd like to spend some time expanding and improving one of the most popular parts of renshuu's quizzing system, the Focused Review. I've gotten various suggestions over the last couple of years, but I'd like to gather them all in one thread. What you can add in this thread:
1. New ideas for changing/expanding/adding to the Focused Review system 2. Links to previously mentioned requests that you feel should be considered.
Any comments related to other features on renshuu will be removed.
I've never really thought about it much. Some of these have probably already been suggested, but that's all I could think of:
How about a "Most missed" option? For example, at "Quiz size" 10 it will give you the 10 terms in that schedule you've missed the most in general.
We have "Lowest mastery", so why not "Highest mastery"? I'm sure it would have its uses. Like going through high-mastery terms to check if you still know them?
You could have one that's the reverse of "Reviewed recently"? The idea being similar to #2.
Maybe one that allows you to select specific mastery levels? Like only level 9 or only level 5. Maybe allowing for multiple selection?
Maybe an option that let's you pick by how much mastery should drop on incorrect answers? I guess we already have the "When I answer something incorrectly" global setting, but a Focused Review specific option could be nice.
I'll just add to this post if I think of anything else.
Edit: I didn't know Focused reviews affect review dates. That's good to know :)
I can respond to #1. Most missed can be problematic - not in programming, but in the effect. Focused reviews affect review dates. If something was scheduled 4 days away, and then it's one day from being reviewed, a focused review will push it back out 4 days again, and repeatedly doing this will make it harder to actually advance the mastery level (despite studying it).
Now, this effect exists for all focused reviews, but pinpointing "most missed" kind of hones in on the ones most likely to be coming up soon, and then repeatedly pushing them away :(
#2 has the same issue. Again, not an absolute no, but worth considering how it affects the reviews.
Because #3 is the reverse, it would "suffer" the least from this effect :)
#4 - could get complicated - is mastery level the average? Do you also pick a study vector, or multiple vectors? Exact mastery level, or up to / more than? Not impossible, of course, but the option itself could get complex. Definitely has merit, but it would have to be restricted enough to keep it making sense to the average user.
Is there a particular reason for Focused reviews to affect review dates like that? Maybe you could have a toggle for that behaviour?
I thought they only messed with review dates on incorrect answers. Actually, how about a mode that doesn't touch mastery/review dates at all? It would be fully independent of the SRS system. Maybe have it so it doesn't count towards (some of) your stats at all. Focused reviews tend to inflate my accuracy stats :D
Sorry if I'm missing something obvious.
Edit: I understand that certain review styles might go against some of SRS's principles, but I like having options.
I'd love a way to study terms that are similar to each other. Ex: kanji that are visually similar or words that all start with the same kana. Or which terms are most often confused for each other.
I now that it's not the meaning of focused reviews, but it would be great if you can actually toggle for them to affect mastery level. Because sometimes you have a free day on your hand and nothing to study.
Als iit's not really clear about it not affecting mastery levels or study timing and I did not know that one for years. And just did focused review in hopes of it faster raising my mastery level.
I have some vocab lists that I would have liked to go faster on, if I have time, but other than that, normal pace. You can select for "study all vectors" to make it faster, but it only affects the next day, and I need it like now.
