Dialogue - main entryThe dialogue tool in a topic ideally consists of 4 stages, in a looped process. 1. Plan | 2. Build | 3. Test | 4. Administer || SupportGood practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to assignment-related resources are provided below. Communication, interaction and collaboration tools in FLO | Facilitating Student-Teacher interaction in FLO ![]() 1. Plan your dialogueThe dialogue tool has some similarities to other communication methods (e.g. email, forums, messages). Dialogue allows for one to one conversations inside the topic, as opposed to forums which are mainly for group discussions and messaging, which is for one on one discussion, but is not recorded in the topic. You could use the dialogue tool to:
2. BuildThe dialogue tool can be set up with a few quick steps:
3. TestThe easiest way to see how the dialogue tool works is to try it out with a colleague (or multiple colleagues).
4. AdministerYou can send a message to a particular person, or send identical copies of a message to everyone in a group.
![]() ![]()
|
Download FLO - database exporting entriesEntries can be exported from the database in either a CSV (comma separated values) or ODS (OpenOffice) format. To export entries, click on the Export tab at the top of the database [1]. Select the export format [2] and choose the fields that you wish to export [3]. Select the export options [4] and click export entries to export the entries [5]. Entries can also be exported from the Actions menu cog. |
Download FLO - downloading personal videos from KalturaKaltura has been our default video tool in Moodle and with the move to Canvas, videos stored in the personal section of Kaltura might not be migrated as we may not have access to them. To avoid losing these videos, you can download your videos and store them for later. To access and download your personal videos from Kaltura on Moodle (FLO), Access your FLO dashboard and then click on the down arrow next to your profile. Click on 'MyMedia' tab on the drop down menu. Once you open your My Media dashboard, click on the video you would like to download. This will open another window. At the top right corner of the media window, click on the download icon. |
Download FLO - export a glossaryThe glossary tool in FLO/Moodle has no corresponding equivalent tool in Canvas. However, you can export the entries from an FLO glossary as a text file (that you may wish to reuse in Canvas via another tool such as pdf, an H5P object etc). To export content from the glossary tool:
|
Download FLO - main entry
As teaching in FLO will end in November, FLO, Collaborate and Kaltura will shut down at the end of 2023. Make sure to save any recordings and other learning content by December 21st if you’d like to access them next year.
What is migrating to Canvas?The most recent availability of each topic in Moodle will migrate to Canvas, plus course sites from this year and any non-teaching sites (e.g. Academic Integrity). Topics in the Doctor of Medicine are being migrated for a longer period, to meet requirements. What is not migrating to Canvas?Older versions of topics and personal sites will not be migrated to Canvas. If you have Collaborate recordings and personal Kaltura videos that you wish to keep, you will need to download them. Some less commonly used tools do not have equivalents in Canvas and cannot be migrated. If you are affected, we will advise you once you get access to 2024 topics. What happens if I do not download my content in time?If you do not download your materials by the end of the year, we will not be able to recover them for you. What happens if a student challenges their grade?We have contracted an archiving service to assist with grade challenges and student complaints. However, it does not have the capacity to provide you with missing content. How are students being supported?Students have a similar set of resources to the ones you see below. In addition to the posters and signage around our campuses, we will also communicate with students through Ping, email, and social media. If you want to help, we have created a PowerPoint slide that you can include in your lectures.
How to download content
Most resources can be saved by either printing to a PDF or copying and pasting the text into Microsoft Word, but the following tools have special instructions:
Further assistance
For further assistance, please contact your local eLearning Support Team. ![]() ![]() |
Download FLO - printing a Master copy of ExamsWe have a legal requirement to save a Master copy of exams in perpetuity. SAS teams will make a copy of online exams to meet these requirements, but topic coordinators may wish to make a copy for personal reference.
Check if the exam was run as a quiz or an assignment
AssignmentIdentify where/how the exam questions are provided to students. They may be:
Exams may contain one or multiple of the above.
Quizzes
Quizzes without random questions
Quizzes with random questions
|
Forum / Announcements - exporting forum posts
Once the forum is made available to students (via the Forum settings), you may want to do one or more of the following actions, depending on the forum settings.
Export an entire forum, or part of a forum
Export a discussion thread
Alternatively, if you want to export the discussion topic without sending it to Mahara, you could print the page as an Adobe PDF file.
Export a single postYou (or a student) can export a post to a portfolio.
You can also copy and paste the post’s text into Mahara. While this easier, be aware that it doesn't carry across the post date and time, so won’t be suitable in all situations. |
External tool - main entryThe external tool activity enables students to interact with learning resources and activities on other web sites using LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability). 1. Plan | 2. Build | 3. Test || Support![]()
1. PlanDecide what external tool you want to use from the University-wide pre-approved list:
To create an external tool not listed above, please contact your eLearning support team before you sign up for a product. External tool
requests are not automatically added. Requests are
reviewed and assessed on a case-by-case basis.
2. BuildYou have planned what external tool to use, now follow these steps to set it up in your topic.
3. TestCheck the recently added external tool to make sure it is working as expected.
|
External tool - ReadingsThis entry relates to the list of External tools
Good practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to readings-related resources are provided below. Considerations associated with compiling a reading list | Considerations associated with selecting a textbook 1. How does Readings work?You can put any number of resource types into your readings list including (but not limited to):
2. Where can I find it?Readings is added to every topic. If it has been removed from your topic, please contact your eLearning support team.
3. What can I do in Readings?
The Library will:
Support
|
Statement of Assessment Methods (SAM)
Where to find the SAM for your topicThe SAM is located in the Assessment module in each topic:
It shows any available SAM for your topic. If 'not available' appears in the 'Link to SAM' column, this means your SAM has either not been created or is currently in draft format and not yet published.
Where to go for SAM's supportPlease visit the dashboard in FLEX https://flex.flinders.edu.au. This contains a complete guide for all of your SAM’s questions Good practice guides and tip sheetsGood practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to assessment-related resources are provided below. Authentic assessment | Assessment principles | Completing Statement of Assessment Methods for 2022 | Developing learning outcomes | Policy implications for assessment design | Students are engaged in authentic and experiential learning | Using gradebook | Moderation | Providing students with comprehensive assessment information and support in FLO | Constructive alignment in FLO | Negotiated assessment |
Engaging content - pollingStudents provide responses to questions or surveys. Polling can be synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous or real-time polling in class allows you to display and analyse the results immediately. Asynchronous polling can be used prior to a teaching session where you collect and analyse results to inform delivery of your class. Good practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to polling-related resources are provided below. Design principles for creating engaging digital content
|
Sourcing and creating digital content
FLO Active Quiz
Active Quiz is designed for in-class quizzes. The quiz uses questions from the question bank, questions can be timed/not timed, grades are reported back to the Gradebook. You can view student responses in real time to offer in-class discussion about the
results. Students can use any device. Group quizzing is supported.
Good for
Useful features
Cautions
Tips
Help resources
|
Feedback - main entryWhether you are starting from scratch or working with a feedback activity already created, using the feedback activity in a topic ideally consists of 5 stages, in a looped process."] 1. Plan | 2. Build | 3. Test | 4. Administer | 5. Review || SupportGood practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to assignment-related resources are provided below. Communication, interaction and collaboration tools in FLO | Facilitating Student-Teacher interaction in FLO | Designing holistic rubrics | Constructive alignment in FLO ![]() 1. PlanThe feedback tool enables a teacher to create a custom survey for collecting feedback from participants using a variety of question types including multiple-choice, yes/no or text input. Feedback responses may be anonymous if desired, and results may be shown to all participants or restricted to teachers only. Feedback activities may be used to:
|
Troubleshooting |
|
---|---|
Training / Support Contact your college eLearning support team |
|
Feedback - Touchpoint survey
The Touchpoint survey is a short survey designed as a ‘snapshot’ to provide formative feedback about student learning. The survey can be added to your topic early, mid and late (eg weeks 3- 4, 7, 11 or equivalent, depending on the topic structure), or just once in the topic. It prompts students to voluntarily and anonymously give feedback about their experience of the topic so far. The questions are:
These questions can be easily altered to suit your needs. The data provides formative feedback about where students are at, to allow adequate time to make changes to teaching if needed. It also helps reinforce that students are an active part of their own learning. The data from the survey remains with (is stored in) the topic.
|
FLO interface - main entryFlinders Learning Online (FLO), Flinders University's web-based learning and teaching platform, facilitates the creation of online educational environments by non-technical users. FLO can be used to create entire online topics and courses or to provide
interactive tools that supplement or complement existing topics and courses. All topics at Flinders have a FLO site. FLO is a 'suite' of technologies. The core of FLO is Moodle, but it also includes related educational technologies. 1. Layout | 2. Customisation | 3. Topics | 4. Browser compatibility | 5. Log out || SupportAnyone with a Flinders FAN can log into FLO. Each topic has a FLO site automatically created. Staff may request other sites (eg for courses, collaborative projects, committees) by contacting the eLearning support team in their college. A link to the FLO login page is provided in the Quick links menu in the top banner of the University website or via Okta. Otherwise, type https://flo.flinders.edu.au/ into your browser address bar; this
link will redirect you to Okta to sign in. Once signed in you will be redirected to FLO.
|
Setting
|
What it does
|
---|---|
Edit profile | |
Preferred language |
|
Forum preferences |
|
Editor preferences
|
|
Topic preferences |
|
Calendar preferences |
|
Message preferences |
|
Notification preferences
|
|
3. Topics
FLO topics consist of resources (eg lecture notes, files, URLs, and video files) and activities (eg assignment dropboxes, quizzes, discussion forums).
Orientation to FLO and quick editing tips:- Find your way around (FLO features)
- Edit content in a topic (includes add a block, and add/delete a module)
- Customise the My Topics block (My FLO)
- Create starred topics for quick access (My FLO)
Find your way around (FLO features)
Tools for managing learning (such as the Gradebook) can be used to record and monitor student progress In the Flinders My Topics area – this is a listing of all the topics you have access to and you can decide how you would like to view your topics –
in progress, past, future or starred topics.
The standard layout for each topic consists of content (modules/weeks) in the centre, navigation menu on the left, and topic blocks in the banner image.
The top module can be used for resources that are needed throughout the semester and do not sit specifically into a weekly module, or one of the modules included in the starter site.
Note: If you are using a Collapsed topic format, the user cannot collapse the top module, and so consideration should
be given to the number of resources in the top module to avoid a long scrolling experience.
Edit content in a topic
The editing aspects of the topic are located at the top of the screen. The Topic Management, Navigation menu and Quicklinks appear at the top of your screen in every topic, along with the Turn editing on button. To edit or add content
to your topic, select the
Turn editing on button.

Edit week/modules and activities/resources
With editing on, next to each activity you will see an Edit drop-down menu. This menu will allow you to move, hide, duplicate or delete the activity.
A week/module or activity/resource can be quickly renamed using the pencil icon and moved easily using the move icon.
Note: If you using a weekly format and change the default module titles by renaming them, remember to check that date-specific resources like lecture recordings appear in the correct location before teaching begins.
Add a block
There are various blocks you can add to a topic. See the list in Add a block located at the top of the page in Topic Blocks:
When you have finished editing, ensure that you Turn editing off.
Add/delete a module
- If deleting a module, delete all of the contents of the module. Otherwise, skip to the next step.
- Scroll to the end of the FLO topic homepage, and select either the add or delete option.
- If adding a mdoule, change the module name using the pen icon, and move to the position you want it (eg below Module 0) using the icon at the left of the module name
Customise the My Topics block (My FLO)
The My Topics block has filters to help you find your FLO sites. The following filters are available:
All – All your FLO sites, (except for any you have hidden)
In progress – All sites currently running (e.g. the topics you are currently teaching in)
Future – Topics you will be teaching in the future. Topics will move to In progress at the start of the semester
Past – Topics where teaching has finished
Starred – Topics you have marked for easy access (see below)
Removed from view – Topics you have removed from the All filter.
Whenever you log in to FLO, you are taken back to the filter you last chose. If you find that you are suddenly missing a topic, this can probably be fixed by checking which filter is selected.
Create starred topics for quick access (My FLO)
To access frequently used topics, you can 'star' a topic, which makes it easier to filter when you log in to FLO.
- First, click on My Topics list in the navigation menu:
- Scroll down and find the topic you would like to star
- Click on the three dots
- Click on Star this topic
Your topic will now appear in Starred, when you filter the list under My Topics.
4. Browser compatibility
FLO is compatible with any standards-compliant web browser. We regularly test FLO with the following most up-to-date browsers:
Desktop: Chrome | Firefox
Mobile: Safari | Chrome
For the best experience and optimum security, we recommend that you keep your browser up to date.
5. Log out
Once you have finished in FLO remember to log out.- Click on your profile menu
- Click on Log out
Training and support |
Troubleshooting |
---|---|
Training Contact your eLearning support team for any training required Support For further assistance please contact your local eLearning support team |
You may have one of the following issues: |
FLO interface - troubleshooting1. Layout | 2. Customisation | 3. Topics | 4. Logout || SupportThis troubleshooting guide relates to the FLO Interface.
|
FLO interface - WebPET (Web Presence in Every Topic)1. Layout | 2. Customisation | 3. Topics | 4. Logout || SupportThis entry relates to the FLO interface. This information has now been replaced by the digital learning guidelines.What is 'WebPET'?WebPET (Web Presence in Every Topic) aims to provide:
And in addition:
Students are generally happy with using FLO for their studies but have expressed their desire for more consistency across their topics.
What does it look like?As a minimum, each FLO site has:
Expectations of staffAll staff are required to:
What you can expect from the UniversityThe University will:
|
Topic administration - main entryThe topic administration section describes how you administer your topic in FLO. 1. How sites are created | 2. Topic settings | 3. Editing your topic | 4. User management | 5. Reports || SupportGood practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to assignment-related resources are provided below. Structuring your FLO site | Culturally responsive digital learning |
Teaching first year | Supporting students to successfully engage with the topic
Once you have built, adjusted the settings, and edited your topic in preparation for student access, you can preview it as a student to see what it looks like from a user perspective (rather than as an administrator).
1. How sites are createdTopics are automatically created in FLO using data from Student Two. If your topic does not appear, contact your local eLearning support team for assistance. Staff have access to topics 77 days prior to the teaching start date, with students getting access 7 days before the start of teaching. See:
Both staff and students have access for 730 days after teaching finishes, except when a student withdraws or a staff member is removed from the teaching team in Student Management.
Shared topics
A shared topic combines several cohorts (topic availabilities) into one FLO site. View more information and guidelines Course sitesDepending on its purpose, a course site may be set up to support students across topics/programs and/or staff. View more information and how to set up Short coursesIt is possible to create a non-award (short) course in FLO using existing infrastructure, though some processes are less automated than what is possible for award topics. View more information
2. Topic settingsYou can do many things under the Topic management menu.
Topic coordinator/teacher role optionsThe Topic management panel can be opened by clicking the button (cog icon) on the main menu. As a teacher, you will see more options than a student. It gives you access to activities, the question bank,
badges and user links. If you are on your topic's home page, you will also be able to access topic administration features (through the Actions menu
Change your topic formatYou can use different formats to change the organisation and structure of your topic.
Upload a banner to your topicA banner is designed to give a face to your site and make it recognisable to your students. The banner is visible on top of the
site, as well as on the topic 'card' on the MyFLO page. Change the maximum upload file size available in your topicThis is managed in the Files and uploads section. By default, topics are set at 40MB but can be changed to accept files up to 2GB. If you need to upload video/audio, please follow the Kaltura (My Media) process.
Turn on completion tracking in your topicThis setting controls completion tracking topic wide. By default, completion tracking is not enabled.
Manage groups in your topicA group or grouping can be used on two levels — topic level and activity level. When the group mode is switched on at the topic level this is the default for all activities in the topic (including filtering in the gradebook and in participants/enrolled users pages). To enable group mode in a topic, follow the steps below.
3. Editing your topic
In this section, we go through the editing within the topic using an activity, resource or block.
4. User managementIn the User management section, you can do a variety of tasks relating to users in your topic.
View a list of participantsYou can view a list of all users in your topic on the Participants screen.
![]() You can contact a student via FLO by sending a message.
You may wish to export a list of students to aid the import groups process or extract a list of FANs.
5. ReportsYou can view a wide variety of reports in your topic. Available reports:
View Reports - main entry for more information. You can also contact your local eLearning support team.
|
Forum / Announcements - create a discussion forum
You can create a discussion forum in any topic module. Note: The Announcements forum is included in all topics (you do not need to create it).
Set up a forum
![]() Timeline block: The 'due date' will show to students in the Timeline block.
Set up marking in a forumThere are two ways to mark a forum in FLO:
Whole forum grading
Rating individual posts
|
Forum / Announcements - create separate discussion forums for groups in a topic
You can create separate discussion forums for groups of students in a single forum activity (you don't need to create a separate forum activity for each group). Note: Before creating your group discussion forum, you will need to organise your students into groups and add these groups to a grouping. Good practice guides and tip sheets
Good practice guides and tip sheets have been developed to support quality in both curriculum design and teaching practice. Good practice guides provide a pedagogical overview and tip sheets provide you with practical strategies and ideas for implementation. Links to group-related resources are provided below.
Create a group discussion forum
|
Forum / Announcements - exporting forum posts
Once the forum is made available to students (via the Forum settings), you may want to do one or more of the following actions, depending on the forum settings.
Export an entire forum, or part of a forum
Export a discussion thread
Alternatively, if you want to export the discussion topic without sending it to Mahara, you could print the page as an Adobe PDF file.
Export a single postYou (or a student) can export a post to a portfolio.
You can also copy and paste the post’s text into Mahara. While this easier, be aware that it doesn't carry across the post date and time, so won’t be suitable in all situations. |