Common questions

Trying it out#

Can I try Flash Reference for free?#

Yes. Every new organization gets a 30-day free trial, with no card needed. It includes everything instructors and students use; a few features, like collaborators, need a plan. See Starting your free trial.

How much does it cost?#

Plans differ in how many active students they include, and in a few features such as collaborators. The pricing on our home page and the billing page show every plan and its price. Need a quote, or a plan that isn't listed? Contact us.

What happens when the trial ends?#

Students can still open your decks for 5 more days. After that, they can't until you choose a plan, but your decks and results are kept. See Starting your free trial.

Students#

Do students need an account?#

No. Students open decks from their course, and your LMS tells Flash Reference who they are. Their progress is saved to them, with no sign-up or password.

Can students study on a phone?#

Yes, in a browser or in your LMS's app. See Studying on a phone.

Can students see each other's progress?#

No. Students only see their own progress. Instructors see results for their own decks, and admins see results for every deck in your organization. See Student data and privacy.

Can students make their own decks?#

No. Instructors build decks, and students study them.

Decks and cards#

What can go on a card?#

Text on the front and back, with bold, italic, superscript, subscript, colors and lists. Either side can be a picture instead, with a description for students who can't see it. The front can also have a hint. Cards can't hold audio or video. See Adding and editing cards.

Can I bring in cards I already have?#

Yes. Paste them as a list, one card per line, or upload a spreadsheet saved as a CSV file. If your cards are in another flashcard app, export them as text or a spreadsheet first. See Adding cards in bulk.

Can I use one deck in several courses?#

Yes. Add it to as many courses as you like. Its results show every course together, or one course at a time. See Reading your results.

If I change a deck, do I need to add it to my course again?#

No. Students see your changes the next time they open the deck.

Can colleagues work on a deck with me?#

Yes. Add them as collaborators, or share the deck with your whole organization so other instructors can add it to their courses. Both need a plan that includes them. See Folders, collaborators and sharing.

Your LMS#

Which LMSs does Flash Reference work with?#

Canvas, Moodle, D2L Brightspace, Blackboard Learn and Schoology, and any other LMS that supports LTI 1.1 or LTI 1.3. See What you need.

Can I use Flash Reference without an LMS?#

Yes, on a WordPress website. Your admin installs our plugin, and instructors paste a deck's shortcode into a page. See Putting a deck on a WordPress site.

Does Flash Reference send grades to my LMS?#

No. Flash Reference doesn't add anything to your LMS's gradebook. Each deck's Results page shows how students are doing, and you can download it as a spreadsheet. See Reading your results.

Privacy and accessibility#

What do you keep about students?#

Their name and email address, as your LMS sends them, and their progress on each deck. Each mark is kept for 12 months. We don't use student data for marketing or advertising. See Student data and privacy and our privacy policy.

Is Flash Reference accessible?#

It's built to work with a keyboard, screen readers and zoom. Our accessibility statement and conformance report say what we've tested and what still needs work. See also Settings, shortcuts and accessibility.

Still have a question?#

See Getting help.