Image occlusion vs cloze deletion: what is the difference?
Image occlusion hides labels on a picture; cloze deletion hides words in a sentence. Both test recall by covering part of something and asking you to fill it in, but image occlusion is for visual material like diagrams and maps, while cloze deletion is for text like definitions and facts. Most students use both.
A cloze card takes a sentence and blanks out a key word, for example, the powerhouse of the cell is the [...]. You recall the missing word. It is fast to make from notes and great for definitions, lists, and facts.
An image occlusion card takes a diagram and covers a label, so you see the picture with one part hidden and name it. It is the right tool when the thing you need to know is spatial: where a structure sits, what each part of a cycle is, the regions on a map.
They are not rivals. Use cloze for the wording and image occlusion for the picture. A good anatomy deck usually has both.
| Image occlusion | Cloze deletion | |
|---|---|---|
| Hides | Labels on a picture | Words in a sentence |
| Best for | Diagrams, maps, anatomy | Definitions, facts, lists |
| You recall | What a part is called | The missing word |
| Made from | A labeled image | A sentence or note |