What is Flinders Learning Online (FLO)?
FLO is a web-based system that facilitates the creation of online educational environments by non-technical users. FLO can be used to create entire on-line topics and courses, or to provide interactive tools that supplement or complement existing topics and courses. All topics at Flinders have a FLO site (part of the WebPET - Web Presence in Every Topic initiative).
At the core of FLO is a learning management system (currently Blackboard Vista until 2012) but other software and tools are integrated into the FLO environment to meet the specific teaching and learning requirements of the University. FLO can really been seen as a web-based 'suite' of technologies.
FLO is being upgraded in 2012, which includes changing our learning management from Blackboard to Moodle. For more information see the FLO Upgrade project information.
Where is FLO?
The Flinders Learning Online (FLO) website can be found at: http://learn.flinders.edu.au
What is FLO used for?
There are four main parts to the FLO environment:
FLO Home page
This is a list of all topics that the user personally has access to. For academic staff, these are topics you may be Coordinating or teaching within, for general staff, these may be topics that you are supporting. This page can be customised and contains news and announcements from within your topics.
Students generally access their list of FLO topics, via the Student Portal (iFlinders) which is designed to list FLO topics and topic announcements, and additionally enrolment, timetabling and other University information.
Structure and navigation
FLO assists users to build topic content, (e.g. lecture notes, announcements and video files), but also importantly, has a range of tools specifically designed to facilitate teaching, learning and assessment.
FLO tools
In each FLO topic site, there is navigation and tools available for structuring and adding content. A FLO topic site may have content like lecture notes, streaming video lectures, discussion forums, wikis, blogs, quizzes, grading rubrics, online gradebook and assignments. The tools within FLO assist staff to build this content. To find out more about these tools see the available technologies pages.
Learning Management System
Tools such as gradebook and tracking tools can be used to manage student learning and for students to review their own progress, work in groups on tasks and undertake self-assessment.
How do I get access to FLO?
FLO access for staff and students is managed through the Student Information System (Student Two) based on enrolments (students) and teaching team (staff) information. FLO is accessed by logging in with your Flinders Authentication Name (FAN). For more information about access to FLO topics,.see the 'Staff help' and 'Student help' information on the Flinders Learning Online (FLO) website at: http://learn.flinders.edu.au
How do I find out the technical requirements of FLO?
The library has a FLO FAQ with all the details about what you need on your computer to use FLO.
How do I get help with FLO?
Staff: local Faculty support teams and central flo.help@flinders.edu.au
Students: Student FLO Helpdesk based in the Library
