Firecracker

[JackShephard MD]

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med.firecracker.me

New medical education website rooted in an adaptive learning platform. Looks impressive, check it out.

Cheers.

 

[Hemorrage]

Can you guys comment on how you're going about using the beta? I want to trust the algorithm but often i find myself going to a specific segment of Firecracker (Biochem for example) and choosing a sub-sect of questions to work on rather than getting random Questions from several different topics.

 

[Elevencents]

Can you guys comment on how you're going about using the beta? I want to trust the algorithm but often i find myself going to a specific segment of Firecracker (Biochem for example) and choosing a sub-sect of questions to work on rather than getting random Questions from several different topics.

Not sure I understand? Same as the website. Just log in, do my daily questions (90) and done.

 

[Hemorrage]

Not sure I understand? Same as the website. Just log in, do my daily questions (90) and done.

So with the beta (unlike the old website) I go to specific topics and do questions on them per day. For example I go to biochem and do biochem problems, and another day I'll go to anatomy and do anatomy problems. My understanding was that since you don't "flag" items in the beta you have to decide what questions you want to work on?

 

[abolt18]

So with the beta (unlike the old website) I go to specific topics and do questions on them per day. For example I go to biochem and do biochem problems, and another day I'll go to anatomy and do anatomy problems. My understanding was that since you don't "flag" items in the beta you have to decide what questions you want to work on?

No no no, you still flag questions and they go into your 'stack' as soon as you've seen the questions. When you log into beta, you just hit 'do questions' right there on the front, and it'll give you questions from all your flagged material in a prioritized manner. You set your own goal on how many to do. Though what you describe is a nice way to review if you're finding yourself weak on a certain subject.

 

[Elevencents]

No no no, you still flag questions and they go into your 'stack' as soon as you've seen the questions. When you log into beta, you just hit 'do questions' right there on the front, and it'll give you questions from all your flagged material in a prioritized manner. You set your own goal on how many to do. Though what you describe is a nice way to review if you're finding yourself weak on a certain subject.

This. Beta is really no different than the website now. It just has a different algorithm and more options. Took me months to finally warm up to the beta but now I love it.

 

[Hemorrage]

No no no, you still flag questions and they go into your 'stack' as soon as you've seen the questions. When you log into beta, you just hit 'do questions' right there on the front, and it'll give you questions from all your flagged material in a prioritized manner. You set your own goal on how many to do. Though what you describe is a nice way to review if you're finding yourself weak on a certain subject.

Wow so I've been doing it wrong so far lol. How do I flag topics on the beta?

Edit: NVM realized I needed to update the app for the flag icons lol

 

[pacman2018]

do you guys get a lot of questions about the same topic in a row when doing your daily questions in beta? if I get a string of questions about the same bacteria for example, it is kind of pointless because although I did not know the answer of the first question, I know it's going to be that bug on the next card even if I didn't know the information well. doesn't really test your knowledge when you know the answer before seeing the next card because it's a string on the same topic. also makes it hard to rate because I know the answer, but I probably wouldn't have if the question was isolated rather than in a group.

 

[AnalisCanalis]

do you guys get a lot of questions about the same topic in a row when doing your daily questions in beta? if I get a string of questions about the same bacteria for example, it is kind of pointless because although I did not know the answer of the first question, I know it's going to be that bug on the next card even if I didn't know the information well. doesn't really test your knowledge when you know the answer before seeing the next card because it's a string on the same topic. also makes it hard to rate because I know the answer, but I probably wouldn't have if the question was isolated rather than in a group.

Yes, this has been an issue ever since the beta launched.

 

[abolt18]

do you guys get a lot of questions about the same topic in a row when doing your daily questions in beta? if I get a string of questions about the same bacteria for example, it is kind of pointless because although I did not know the answer of the first question, I know it's going to be that bug on the next card even if I didn't know the information well. doesn't really test your knowledge when you know the answer before seeing the next card because it's a string on the same topic. also makes it hard to rate because I know the answer, but I probably wouldn't have if the question was isolated rather than in a group.

I would say use your best judgement. When I run into things like that I'll usually rank it 1 lower than I would have otherwise. Eventually when you start seeing questions a few times, they get spread out as you rank some of them 3s and 4s while others you rank 1s or 2s. In all honestly I feel like it helps me drive home the info better when I see it together the first few times. I am a huge fan of beta. Just have to adapt to it a bit.

 

[Ophthoseidon]

Is anyone one else getting a ton of "which of the following" questions with no answer choices?

 

[CyberMaxx]

Is anyone one else getting a ton of "which of the following" questions with no answer choices?

Yep, I have been getting that too recently. Also, what are people setting for their daily question limits? I am trying to do 150 review + whatever new questions I add each day right now. How are we supposed to decide what to set this limit too?

 

[nabilesmail]

Yep, I have been getting that too recently. Also, what are people setting for their daily question limits? I am trying to do 150 review + whatever new questions I add each day right now. How are we supposed to decide what to set this limit too?

I think it depends on how much you have banked. I know I read/heard in one of the blogs that they will soon add a recommended card # based on how much you have banked.

Right now I am also doing 150/day + new stuff. It seems that people that were 90-100% flagged got 450-600 cards/day (but also had >80% mastery). So for now I'm going to do my flagged % (20 right now) x 600 + 50 or so (since my mastery isn't as great as someone who has been consistent for >1 yr).

 

[AnalisCanalis]

Yep, I have been getting that too recently. Also, what are people setting for their daily question limits? I am trying to do 150 review + whatever new questions I add each day right now. How are we supposed to decide what to set this limit too?

I am doing 120 + 30-40 new questions every day. Currently 60 % banked with 76% mastery. I do find it difficult to estimate the rate at which one should flag, since some topics are much heavier in questions than others.

 

[Ophthoseidon]

Yep, I have been getting that too recently. Also, what are people setting for their daily question limits? I am trying to do 150 review + whatever new questions I add each day right now. How are we supposed to decide what to set this limit too?

I made an equation that I use to calculate how many. I do (150 x %flagged) +50. The most I'll do is 200/day so this works for me. Once I have 100% flagged I will be doing 200. Right now I have about 38% flagged, so I do 107

 

[Coldplayfan123]

Is anyone else's firecracker glitching right now?

I flag a topic, say it has 7 questions, it says I have 12 questions, only shows me 5, and then starts repeating questions. I exit off the screen, try to go back to "do today's questions" and No questions show up!

If I flag another topic, I'll get to do maybe a few of those questions, and then it starts glitching. Started with quite a 5 questions glitched, now I'm at 25. This really sucks.

Beta mode not working either for me.

 

[abolt18]

Is anyone else's firecracker glitching right now?

I flag a topic, say it has 7 questions, it says I have 12 questions, only shows me 5, and then starts repeating questions. I exit off the screen, try to go back to "do today's questions" and No questions show up!

If I flag another topic, I'll get to do maybe a few of those questions, and then it starts glitching. Started with quite a 5 questions glitched, now I'm at 25. This really sucks.

Beta mode not working either for me.

Not using it right now, but whenever this happens I usually chat them and get a response pretty quickly.

 

[nabilesmail]

Is there anyway to permanently swithover to the beta? I do my cards on my laptop and everytime I login I have to click "try it now" to access the Beta version

 

[abolt18]

Is there anyway to permanently swithover to the beta? I do my cards on my laptop and everytime I login I have to click "try it now" to access the Beta version

Just use the url

m.firecracker.me

Should take you straight there.

 

[Iridescent]

I'm starting medical school soon, do you think I should try to use firecracker immediately or wait to get adjusted before I try it out?

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I don't have the time to dig through 2000 posts.

 

[abolt18]

I'm starting medical school soon, do you think I should try to use firecracker immediately or wait to get adjusted before I try it out?

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I don't have the time to dig through 2000 posts.

Personally I'd give it a month, or at least a few weeks, but others might disagree.

 

[Ophthoseidon]

I'm starting medical school soon, do you think I should try to use firecracker immediately or wait to get adjusted before I try it out?

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I don't have the time to dig through 2000 posts.

If you're going to do it I'd get it early. At the beginning try to use the calendar system and flag stuff with classes. If you start with the beta you're going to get flooded wth things from every subject.

 

[abolt18]

If you're going to do it I'd get it early. At the beginning try to use the calendar system and flag stuff with classes. If you start with the beta you're going to get flooded wth things from every subject.

I'm not sure you understand how beta works? You should only see material you've flagged when using beta.

 

[DrEnderW]

As usual, @abolt18 is correct. That's not how the Beta works. Please remember, especially new users, the Beta won't be in "beta" testing forever. It will be the new format.

I also agree with the above comment to wait until you get a test down to make sure you have the time for FC. If you're drowinging/struggling, figure out the med school adjustment first. With that said, start as soon as your comfortable.

 

[freshbagels]

Is anyone one else getting a ton of "which of the following" questions with no answer choices?

I'm getting this too, as well as answers that don't directly answer the question. I.e., epi question -> "which error did they make?" a: -> "Case control studies..." without mention of the error type in either the answer box or the expanded topic at large. Very irritating.

e: This is one the beta, using my computer. I've been reporting it through the question feedback system - "something is broken."

 

[Iridescent]

As usual, @abolt18 is correct. That's not how the Beta works. Please remember, especially new users, the Beta won't be in "beta" testing forever. It will be the new format.

I also agree with the above comment to wait until you get a test down to make sure you have the time for FC. If you're drowinging/struggling, figure out the med school adjustment first. With that said, start as soon as your comfortable.

Yea I think waiting a little bit might be a good idea. Plus I have to be able to flag stuff first!

 

[Ophthoseidon]

I'm not sure you understand how beta works? You should only see material you've flagged when using beta.

That's weird. My friend started a few months before summer and flagged two topics. He said after those two topics ran out on the "do questions" tab, questions started popping up from all sections because he didn't have enough questions flagged to support it. Once he had more topics flagged it never happened again, but I figured that's what it was. I switched to beta early on, so admittedly it never happened to me. I've just heard of a few times where that has happened without enough topics flagged

 

[abolt18]

That's weird. My friend started a few months before summer and flagged two topics. He said after those two topics ran out on the "do questions" tab, questions started popping up from all sections because he didn't have enough questions flagged to support it. Once he had more topics flagged it never happened again, but I figured that's what it was. I switched to beta early on, so admittedly it never happened to me. I've just heard of a few times where that has happened without enough topics flagged

Yeah that only happens if you run out of flagged questions, but 2 weeks into flagging actively, you definitely won't run out of questions anymore. So yeah that's only because 2 topics were flagged.

 

[Ophthoseidon]

Yeah that only happens if you run out of flagged questions, but 2 weeks into flagging actively, you definitely won't run out of questions anymore. So yeah that's only because 2 topics were flagged.

I should have clarified, I meant use the calendar system for like 2 weeks until you get enough flagged

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Yea I think waiting a little bit might be a good idea. Plus I have to be able to flag stuff first!

Tbh I wouldn't recommend waiting as long as a month unless your first month will be fluff stuff like genetics, etc. The earlier the better with Firecracker. I waited until ~November of first year and wish I had just committed from the beginning.

 

[Iridescent]

Tbh I wouldn't recommend waiting as long as a month unless your first month will be fluff stuff like genetics, etc. The earlier the better with Firecracker. I waited until ~November of first year and wish I had just committed from the beginning.

Did you see any benefit in your coursework?

 

[Iridescent]

I'm getting automated emails from Emily from Firecracker saying I've only done 3 in 3 days. Relax honey, I haven't even started school yet.

 

[byaaaaaaah23]

Did you see any benefit in your coursework?

Not really in coursework but def in my long-term retention (ie, retained stuff I flagged that year in Firecracker and not as much what I had learned earlier).

Another tip for first years: DO NOT unflag anything ever unless you are so overwhelmed you are considering quitting FC all together. I unflagged everything from first year except for the last block and regretted this so much I can't even tell you. Even if it feels stupid to be doing cardio questions during your endo block, just do it. Your end-of-2nd-year/boards-studying self will thank you even if it feels like you should be spending all your time studying for block exams. You really don't need to (unless your school is graded).

 

[smarts1]

This. Beta is really no different than the website now. It just has a different algorithm and more options. Took me months to finally warm up to the beta but now I love it.

What I'm worried about is that I don't get to see new topics often enough in the beta version if I put a cap on how many questions I do a day. For example, I have about 300 questions/day in the desktop version right now, but I want to use beta and just do 200/day and I feel like I'll miss out. Does anyone using beta feel this way?

I also use firecracker to go through topics my curriculum doesn't teach me so I'm afraid that if I use beta, I won't learn those other topics well like in the desktop version.

 

[Elevencents]

What I'm worried about is that I don't get to see new topics often enough in the beta version if I put a cap on how many questions I do a day. For example, I have about 300 questions/day in the desktop version right now, but I want to use beta and just do 200/day and I feel like I'll miss out. Does anyone using beta feel this way?

I also use firecracker to go through topics my curriculum doesn't teach me so I'm afraid that if I use beta, I won't learn those other topics well like in the desktop version.

If you're doing 200 questions a day you're not missing anything. I do 90 a day.

I think some of you are really confused with this beta vs desktop idea. Desktop and beta will soon be one in the the same. They both contain the same information. How doing beta makes you think you won't learn certain topics doesn't make sense to me.

 

[abolt18]

What I'm worried about is that I don't get to see new topics often enough in the beta version if I put a cap on how many questions I do a day. For example, I have about 300 questions/day in the desktop version right now, but I want to use beta and just do 200/day and I feel like I'll miss out. Does anyone using beta feel this way?

I also use firecracker to go through topics my curriculum doesn't teach me so I'm afraid that if I use beta, I won't learn those other topics well like in the desktop version.

Also, beta now has a "legacy mode" that pretty-much maintains the calendar as far as I can tell for those interested. I haven't tried it so I'm not 100% but I believe that's what it is.

 

[Hemorrage]

Does anyone have a pedagogical order for the biochem topics? I think out of all the 1st year material i've done Biochem is the least organized and most difficult for me to remember. I'm thinking organizing the content and reading them in a targeted order (opposed to alphabetical like the way FC lists it) would help.

 

[nabilesmail]

Does anyone have a pedagogical order for the biochem topics? I think out of all the 1st year material i've done Biochem is the least organized and most difficult for me to remember. I'm thinking organizing the content and reading them in a targeted order (opposed to alphabetical like the way FC lists it) would help.

I prioritized Real Biochem "Cellular Energy?" and "Nutrition" first. Now I'm going through all the random genetics, molec bio, cell bio etc randomly

 

[nabilesmail]

So are you guys going to even attempt to flag anatomy/embryology (aside from the High Yields and Anatomy under Organ Systems?

I'm not sure if I should even go for it or not

 

[Ophthoseidon]

So are you guys going to even attempt to flag anatomy/embryology (aside from the High Yields and Anatomy under Organ Systems?

I'm not sure if I should even go for it or not

I did it along with anatomy so it wasnt a chore for me. Most of the questions I rarely see because it's been so long since I've had anatomy and most are 4s/5s

 

[spicysoup55]

For pathology-related content, how does the depth of Firecracker answers compare with other resources, specifically First Aid, Pathoma, and Rapid Review Pathology? Would it make sense to use Firecrackers as a memory aid for those other resources?

 

[Ophthoseidon]

For pathology-related content, how does the depth of Firecracker answers compare with other resources, specifically First Aid, Pathoma, and Rapid Review Pathology? Would it make sense to use Firecrackers as a memory aid for those other resources?

I personally think it really depends on who is editing the section. For example, when going through respiratory it seemed like firecracker was straight out of Rapid Review Path. Some sections however are basically first aid in flashcard form.

 

[you.old]

Firecracker qbank stems are really long. Is this equivalent to the length of the real Step questions?

 

[nabilesmail]

I made an equation that I use to calculate how many. I do (150 x %flagged) +50. The most I'll do is 200/day so this works for me. Once I have 100% flagged I will be doing 200. Right now I have about 38% flagged, so I do 107

Just curious, but with ~100 questions/day, do you feel like you don't see cards often enough to really ingrain them in your memory?

 

[Focused1]

Firecracker qbank stems are really long. Is this equivalent to the length of the real Step questions?

I would like to know the answer to this too.

Also... in general what are the reviews for the FC QBank ?

 

[DrEnderW]

Firecracker qbank stems are really long. Is this equivalent to the length of the real Step questions?

Yes. Step 1 recently moved from 46 to 44 questions to increase question length too. You can expect each question to be a paragraph. I'm sure you can find some UWorld questions floating around online to compare.

 

[Ophthoseidon]

Just curious, but with ~100 questions/day, do you feel like you don't see cards often enough to really ingrain them in your memory?

Sometimes it is irritating when I see something I havent seen in awhile that I know I knew it at one point and now I don't, but firecracker came up with this whole algorithm based on "what the most successful test takers do", so I trust that if I do more questions than 80 (which is what they recommend) then it is a bonus. I just couldn't justify taking so much time away from classes/research to work on firecracker for 2-3 hours every day. At some point I might increase it, but I think if I max out at 200 that should be plenty.

 

[aspiringmd1015]

guys i recently subscriped to FC, im honestly ony wanting to use it for anatomy, and micro. Is there a specific way i should be using it for these two sources? and do you guys use it udring your dedicated time period or only during your core class work?

 

[13132]

I don't have many peers using FC so I thought I'd ask what people here think of how I plan to utilize it second year.

The most important part of this is that my school does not have a systems based curriculum. We do physio, biochem, neuro, anat, histo, and some random things like ethics and bio stats first year. Second year is reserved for pharm, path, and micro.

I started FC in April and I worked really hard to catch up on all the material that I learned first year. I do about 250 cards per day and am on track to have all of the first year material done by the time that MS2 starts. Due to the amount of reviews that I have every day, I fear that I won't be able to add all the new path, micro, pharm that I learn throughout the coming year. I also really won't have much time to see those cards a ton, especially the things that come at the end of the year right before our dedicated study period.

All of this to ask the following: Does anybody here have a similar curriculum and use FC? If so, what do you think about using FC to just keep all of those MS1 topics fresh and go hard in class for the MS2 material (Anki, Pathoma, Sketchy Micro, UWORLD before shelves, etc)?

 

[13132]

guys i recently subscriped to FC, im honestly ony wanting to use it for anatomy, and micro. Is there a specific way i should be using it for these two sources? and do you guys use it udring your dedicated time period or only during your core class work?

I usually hear people using it outside of dedicate. Certainly Ive never heard of anybody trying to add NEW cards during dedicated.

 

[13132]

Sometimes it is irritating when I see something I havent seen in awhile that I know I knew it at one point and now I don't, but firecracker came up with this whole algorithm based on "what the most successful test takers do", so I trust that if I do more questions than 80 (which is what they recommend) then it is a bonus. I just couldn't justify taking so much time away from classes/research to work on firecracker for 2-3 hours every day. At some point I might increase it, but I think if I max out at 200 that should be plenty.

I had a question about this. 80 cards per day wouldn't get you through everything unless you didn't have reviews to deal with. So lets say you are doing micro and you want to flag a topic with 20 cards but it gets folded into a million reviews. How do you make sure that you at least see those 20 cards first and then continue to see them as reviews with more frequency than a million ancient review cards.

I haven't used the app/beta extensively so maybe this isn't an issue. Maybe the algorithm takes care of it.