FLO Student Support

Studying online from outside of Australia

When you begin your topic, your topic coordinator will advise you on the expectations for successfully engaging with the topic and assessment materials. Topic coordinators have tried to ensure teaching content is in a form that should be available in your home country. The Learning Online guide can help you engage in active learning while studying online, and includes success factors such as being present online, self-managing, communicating, participating and reflecting.

Flinders University does not recommend the use of a VPN service. We expect that our systems will be accessible from your location and VPN will not resolve internet performance issues. For best results you will need a reliable fixed line internet connection and use a PC or laptop to access our systems online. Avoid using a mobile phone and mobile network. If you would still prefer to use a VPN, please check your local regulations to ensure that you are allowed to connect to our services in this way prior to making a purchase.

If logging in via the Flinders dashboard (Okta) is problematic, login directly to FLO https://flo.flinders.edu.au

  Available technology/service*

  Technology/service may NOT be available
  • FLO
  • Turnitin
  • Student management system
  • Email
  • Lecture recordings
  • Videos in FLO (using Kaltura - Flinders video platform)
  • Collaborate (web conferencing)
  •  Readings (Leganto)
  •  eSAMs
  •  Assignment extension requests
  • Turnitin
  • Google products (e.g. Google Docs, Sheets, etc)
  • YouTube
  • RPNow (online exams) – only applies to some courses

 



How to get help

If you are having problems accessing your learning materials, please email the FLO student helpdesk (flo.student@flinders.edu.au), including:

  • A description of the problem
  • Your FAN and that you are outside of Australia (overseas)
  • The topic code/name

 Tip: If logging in via the Flinders dashboard (Okta) is problematic, login directly to FLO https://flo.flinders.edu.au

Tips for online learning

As well as being prepared to engage with your learning online, below are some tips for you to optimise your online learning experience.

  System/Application

  Tips

 Collaborate
 (web conferencing)
  • Review the help resources and test your system prior to your first Collaborate session
  • Enter the session early to allow plenty of time for setup.
  • A headset with microphone provides the best audio experience.
  • If there is a practice session before the first teaching session, do your best to attend.
  • If your teacher has provided material (video, powerpoint) for watching/reading before session, ensure you do before you join the discussion.
  • Unless asked, keep webcam/video off to minimise bandwith use, upload a profile picture instead of using webcam.
  • Close all other applications on your computer and close other browser windows/tabs.
  • Use a hard-wired (Ethernet) connection, if available.

 Lecture recordings
  • If the video does not play smoothly:

o  Try the audio only option located below the video. The lecture slides should have been uploaded to your FLO site (contact your topic coordinator if the lecture slides are not available).

o  Try to download the video (icon top right of video player)

 Videos in FLO
(using Kaltura - Flinders video platform)

 
  • Video player should auto select appropriate streaming rate based on bandwidth.
  • You can select different stream rates (qualities). After the video has started playing, use the cog icon Grey cog image for Kaltura video settings on the playbar to access these options.

 Readings (Leganto)
  • Look ahead at upcoming readings, access and download in advance.
  • If the reading doesn’t download properly, try again at a different time.
  • If the reading is blocked, not found or is continually problematic, let us know and we will provide an alternative.

 eSAMs & Assignment  extension requests


Turnitin
  • Clear your browser cookies (to fix ‘Disallowed Key Characters’ error).


  • Review the help resources
  • Turnitin’s supported browser is Firefox (latest version) in China.  For this browser to work please set to allow all cookies from Turnitin.com.