Other supporting tools for teaching activities

The University has for a long time offered Flinga as an easy to use whiteboard solution for activation during teaching. For quick polls and questions especially during live teaching sessions we have as another supported solution Presemo.

Flinga-use came to its end in late 2024; you can read more about this subject and suitable replacements as well as Presemo on the Flinga-instructions page.

E-lomake is an online tool allowing you to build, publish, modify and copy various types of query forms. You can use the form to collect various types of information, such as sign-ups, feedback, research materials, initial information or attachments files.

E-lomake is browser-based. An e-form can be prepared, administered and edited by several people. It is also possible to create the same form in several languages. Replies collected with the form can be managed through the E-lomake report view or downloaded effortlessly to your own computer or into Excel or SPSS for further processing. When creating the reports, it is also possible to create public summaries of the replies received. E-lomake offers a reliable and safe way to collect data for teachers, administrative staff, researchers and students.

• E-lomake news blog
• E-lomake instructions
• Contact: helpdesk@helsinki.fi

Office365 Forms allows you to create questionnaires, quizzes and polls by means of different question types. You can find Forms through the University of Helsinki Office365 service

• Microsoft instructions
• Technical support: helpdesk@helsinki.fi

ThingLink is a platform that makes it easy to augment images, videos, 360° material and virtual tours with additional information and links. Thinglink is integrated with the university's Microsoft Office 365 account and an educational license is provided to both students and staff.

Here is an example Thinglink tour.

Getting started

• How to activate and login to your Thinglink account.
• How to create & publish ThingLinks.
• Introduction to ThingLink for Educators webinar.

Additional instructions

• How to use the ThingLink editor

In general, using social media and other platforms not maintained by the university enables you to try out interesting pedagogical solutions. Often, students enjoy using familiar tools in teaching. However, when using services not provided by the university, you must ensure data security and that all students are aware of where they are storing their information. Services comparable to social media currently offered by the University of Helsinki include Skype for Business, Teams and Yammer included in the Office365 package as well as the Wiki platforms.

Matters to consider when using social media

Students taking the course cannot be obligated to

• use their own name on public social media platforms,
•  make their personal profiles a part of the course, e.g. creating a situation where the teacher and/or student unavoidably end up following each other’s profiles in the service, or
• create new accounts in services outside the university, especially if disclosing personal information is required to create the account.

The students must be aware of

• how and for what purpose the platforms are used and
•  what is required of them to use the platforms.
•  If necessary, you should offer an alternative method of completing the course or the possibility of completing the same studies on another course.

Students often want to keep their personal and study profiles separate, which should be respected. Shared accounts created under the course’s name are common and generally OK. The use of any service is basically possible, but their use and general rules of conduct must be considered separately for each service and course.