Flinga

Flinga is a type of online-based whiteboard that is particularly well suited for activities such as communal knowledge building and promoting active student participation during teaching. Flinga is browser-based, so you can use it with a computer, a tablet or a mobile phone as long as you are connected to the internet.

The version of Flinga available to university staff and students is the Campus version, which contains three different tools.

• Flinga Whiteboard enables you to build mind maps and group the messages in any way you want.
• Flinga Wall is an easy to use message wall. The messages sent can be arranged in their order of arrival or based on the likes they have received.
• Activities contains short pedagogical scripts that can be implemented directly through this function. Activities can also be a good source of ideas for planning your own sessions.

Flinga is available to all members of staff and students at the University of Helsinki. To create and manage Flinga sessions, use your university credentials at hy.flinga.fi.

Participants of a session will be directed to edu.flinga.fi and they will receive a session-specific access code that Flinga will generate automatically.  Some mobile devices require you to press SEND to show the message field and other tools. This mostly applies to mobile phones. Watch the video.

Flinga has some accessibility problems and there is no easy way to fix them. The biggest problem is that screen reader programs do not work with it properly. This must be noticed when planning teaching.

Flinga instructions in English (NEW!)

Flinga’s video instructions (in Finnish):

• Kirjautuminen ja valikot (Logging in and menus)
• Flinga Wall (A guide to Flinga Wall)
• Flinga Whiteboardin kattava ohjeistus (A comprehensive guide to Flinga Whiteboard)
• Flinga Whiteboardin viestien lähettäminen ja hallinnointi (Sending and managing messages in Flinga Whiteboard)
• Flinga-viestien lähettäminen mobiililaitteella (Sending Flinga messages on mobile devices)

More information and tips on how to use Flinga are available through the following links:

• Flinga homepage (in Finnish): http://www.nordtouch.fi/flinga/
• Scripts, tips for using Flinga (in Finnish): http://www.nordtouch.fi/flinga/skriptit/
• Pedagogical guides (in English): http://www.nordtouch.fi/flinga/flinga-pedagogical-module/
• Theoretical framework (in English): http://www.nordtouch.fi/flinga/theoretical- framework/

More information: edutech@helsinki.fi

Accessibility of the digital service 

The Flinga system does not meet accessibility requirements currently. In terms of accessibility, it has problems for which the service provider has so far failed to find solutions. The biggest problem is that screen readers don't work with it. This must be taken into account when planning teaching. 

Did you notice a lack of accessibility in our digital service? Let us know by emailing us at edutech@helsinki.fi. 

Supervisory authority 
If you notice accessibility issues on the website, first leave your feedback with us, the administrators of the website. It may take up to 14 days to receive an answer. If you are not satisfied with the answer or do not receive an answer from us within two weeks, you may file a complaint with the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland. The agency website has detailed instructions (in Finnish and Swedish only) on how to file a complaint and how the issue will be handled. 

Contact information of the supervisory authority:
Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland 
Accessibility supervision unit 
www.saavutettavuusvaatimukset.fi 
saavutettavuus(at)avi.fi 
Phone +358 2950 16000 (switchboard)

The accessibility statement was updated on 10.11.2022.