FLO topic baseline
| Site: | Flinders Learning Online |
| Topic: | FLO Staff Support |
| Book: | FLO topic baseline |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Monday, 29 May 2023, 8:38 AM |
What is the FLO topic baseline?
This information has now been replaced by the digital learning guidelines.
The FLO topic baseline is a recommended baseline of information and resources within a Flinders Learning Online (FLO) site.
The FLO topic baseline aims to clarify the expectations of what students can find as a minimum in a FLO topic site at Flinders University. These guidelines will be regularly reviewed to adapt to changing needs and requirements. The recommendations complement Flinders University Learning and teaching principles with links to resources that provide information about how to implement each guideline.
Baseline guidelines
This information has now been replaced by the digital learning guidelines.
This is an overview of FLO topic baseline guidelines, showing examples of tasks that help to meet each guideline. Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to do each task in your FLO site.
Guideline 1: Students have access to a University-wide agreed minimum level of information in a FLO site.
This guideline refers to the minimum Web Presence in Every Topic (WebPET) and is also achieved automatically through FLO College templates, post-rollover checks and pre-semester FLO site preparation.
Examples:
- FLO topic rollover and topic administration pre-semester checks
- Orientate students to your FLO site
- Organise essential non-weekly resources
Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to meet this guideline in your FLO site.
Guideline 2: Students participate in regular communication with teaching staff and students within FLO.
This guideline is about clarifying which online tools will be used for communication and how online communication is encouraged.
Examples:
- Decide on the tools you will use to communicate and explain how communication will happen in your FLO site
- Consider using an introductory activity ('ice breaker')
- Use FLO for student peer-to-peer and group communication related to assessment
- Provide synchronous communication opportunities
Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to meet this guideline in your FLO site.
Guideline 3: Students have access to topic, course and University support information in every FLO site.
This guideline prompts the inclusion of support information to help students find information at various levels of the University that can help with their studies.
Examples:
- Add introductory text for each module
- Review the content in topic booklets (topic guides, study guides...)
- Provide a clear and consistent guide for students about the required referencing style
- Provide additional relevant support information for the topic, course or College
- Provide specific information to support students studying fully online or off campus
Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to meet this guideline in your FLO site.
Guideline 4: Students have access to assessment tasks and criteria, and receive feedback in a consistent and timely manner.
This guideline aims at supporting students to understand what is expected of them in assessment activities and encouraging a consistent approach to assessment feedback.
Examples:
- Consider how
students can collate evidence and make shareable artifacts of their learning
- For assessed
activities, use built-in FLO tools
- Clearly identify
all assignment-related activities and resources
- Communicate assessment extensions,
feedback and grades via FLO
Guideline 5: Students are given opportunities in FLO to participate in topic input/feedback cycles.
This guideline aims to make the input of student feedback more visible in topic sites by increasing opportunities for students to provide feedback and understand the impact of their feedback.
Examples:
- Maintain a cycle of Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) for the topic
- Use teaching
notes to provide a consistent approach across teaching teams
- Ask students
for their feedback and input into the topic
- Use report information to analyse how students use the FLO site
Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to meet this guideline in your FLO site.
Guideline 6: Students can access resources in a FLO site that are inclusive, accessible and comply with legislation.
This guideline aims to raise awareness of legal obligations for online content and design for a good user experience.
Examples:
- Use a consistent topic format
- Use writing for the web techniques in your FLO site
- Use strategies to support students in different time-zones and geographical locations
- Use built-in topic layout and styling conventions and styles
- Check that topic materials adhere to copyright and accessibility requirements
Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to meet this guideline in your FLO site.
Guideline 7: Students are provided with contextual information about learning activities.
This guideline is about providing information for students that clearly explains the connection of their online activities to learning objectives.
Examples:
- Use
descriptive weekly module headings
- Write
instructional guidance for all essential activities and resources
- Arrange resources within weekly modules consistently
Use the FLO baseline checklist to find out how to meet this guideline in your FLO site.
Baseline checklist
This information has now been replaced by the digital learning guidelines.
Structure your topic to incorporate the baseline
This information has now been replaced by the tip sheet structuring your FLO site.
Set out a module for online learning
This content can now be found in the Teaching Online Guidebook
Baseline FAQ
This information has now been replaced by the FLO starter site.
What is the purpose of the FLO topic baseline?
Students have asked for more consistency across topics in finding the essential information that they require to be successful in their topics. The FLO topic baseline aims to share current recommended practices so that FLO sites will share some common elements. There is still flexibility to adapt to the individual needs of students and teaching staff.
Is the FLO topic baseline mandatory?
No, but we do recommend it as a way to provide consistency across topics for students. You can use the checklist to help you focus on one or two changes in your FLO site or across multiple FLO sites.
How can I use the FLO topic baseline?
The FLO topic baseline checklist can be used at any time during the topic life cycle.
Before teaching begins
You might use it after your FLO topic site has been rolled over, and after you have gone through the rollover checklist, to further develop the resources in your FLO site.
During teaching
Use it during teaching to improve your site resources in response to student feedback.
New topics
If you aren’t rolling over a FLO site and have a new topic, the FLO topic baseline starter site can give you a starter point and prompts with some of the main baseline elements.
Where do I get help with the FLO topic baseline?
Contact your college eLearning support team via Service One.