Writing flashcards
A module’s flashcards are its lesson content. The learner works through them as a swipe deck before taking the quiz. Author them from the module editor’s Flashcards tab.
Anatomy of a card
Every card has:
- Front — a question, statement, or scenario (typically 1–2 sentences)
- Back — the answer or explanation (typically 1–3 sentences)
Cards don’t have to be question/answer — they can also be statement/elaboration (“Always greet a guest by name.” / “Use their last name unless they’ve explicitly invited first-name use.”). Pick whichever shape teaches better.
Adding a card
Click + Add card at the bottom of the deck. A new empty card opens with cursor in the Front field. Type the front, tab to the back, type that, click Save card.
The card is saved immediately to the database. There’s no draft state for individual cards — every card is either persisted or doesn’t exist.
Editing a card
Click any card to edit it inline. Edit Front and/or Back. Click Save to persist.
If you start editing and then click elsewhere, your edits are NOT autosaved. The Save button must be clicked. (We’ve considered autosave; haven’t shipped it because it complicates the “is this card finished” mental model.)
Reordering cards
Drag the handle on the left of each card to reorder. The new order is saved immediately.
Card order matters: learners see them in the order they appear in your deck. Put foundational concepts first, edge cases later.
Deleting a card
Click the trash icon on any card. Confirm. The card is deleted immediately and permanently — no undo, no draft.
How many cards per module?
There’s no rule, but pragmatic guidance:
- Under 5 cards — usually too thin; the learner finishes in 30 seconds and the quiz feels disconnected.
- 5–15 cards — the sweet spot for most modules.
- 15–30 cards — fine for dense content (medical SOPs, regulatory training).
- Over 30 cards — consider splitting into two modules. Learners’ attention drops past ~20 cards.
Bulk add via spreadsheet (NOT YET)
If you have many cards to add from an external source, contact support — we can import from CSV manually for now. A self-serve CSV importer is on the roadmap.
Two AI helpers
You don’t have to write every card manually. See:
AI Write drafts cards based on the source document (uploaded with AI upload). AI Match drafts cards specifically calibrated to help learners pass the quiz you’ve already written.
Common patterns
Some teams use specific card shapes:
- Definition cards — Front: term. Back: definition + example.
- Scenario cards — Front: situation. Back: appropriate response.
- Misconception cards — Front: common wrong belief. Back: correct framing + why people get confused.
- Procedure cards — Front: step name. Back: step details.
You can mix shapes within one module. Just make sure each card is self-contained — learners might see them in random order on re-takes.
Voice and tone
Wisteria’s brand voice guidance for content: “clear, modest, with the calm authority of someone who has done the work.” No exclamation marks. No “we” jargon when “you” is clearer. No urgency unless it’s genuinely urgent.
Flashcards in particular benefit from:
- Short sentences
- Concrete examples over abstract principles
- Active voice
- Specific numbers and references over vague generalities
A boring flashcard that’s accurate is better than a punchy one that’s slightly off.
After authoring
When the deck is finished, mark the module Ready to Submit on the Quiz tab. See Submitting a course for the full flow.
If you change cards after marking a module Ready, you’ll need to re-mark it Ready. The “Ready” flag clears when content updates after the timestamp.