ANGEL Overview
This course utilizes Penn State's ANGEL course management system. For successful viewing of online resources, please refer to the "Recommended Browsers and Computers" listing on the ANGEL site.
Where are things located in ANGEL?
First, you will see an "Announcements" page each time you log in to the course. I use the course's Announcements area to remind of you due dates (also posted to the Calendar in ANGEL), to alert you to important information, and to periodically conduct quick polls to get a sense of how things are going. Be sure to read all of the information on the Announcements page each time you log in!
As you can see at the top of your browser window when in ANGEL, ANGEL uses a "tab" interface to organize content. If you haven't already, explore to find out what is in here! Here is how we use the tabs in this course:
- Syllabus - Quick access to the course syllabus. If you haven't already, read it carefully, as you are bound by it! It also contains helpful contact information.
- Calendar - Our canonical source for all assignment and due dates in this course! By default, the calendar will show you a month at a time. "Page forward" using the "Next" link in the calendar to see the rest of the semester.
- Lessons - Under the Lessons tab you will find all of the online
content for this course. When you are ready to begin a lesson, simply click on the corresponding
folder under the Lessons tab. The core content for each lesson will actually open in a new screen with its own navigation system.
NOTE: Some materials in this course, including submission dropboxes, are scheduled to "appear" and "disappear" on a set schedule (again, see the Calendar in ANGEL for specific dates) so that we all work together at the same general pace. Each Saturday a new lesson will become visible under the Lessons tab in ANGEL.
- Class Roster - A full listing of everyone in our course can be found
under the Report tab -> Class Roster. If you are new to ANGEL, please stop here and personalize your Information Settings by following the directions below.
- Click on the “Preferences” icon (shaped like a wrench) at the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu.
- Select "Personal Information" link.
- Fill in the boxes on the resulting page with your current information. You will see that you can include a URL for a personal Web Site and even upload a photo. I encourage you to upload a picture of yourself so we can "see" one another.
- Click on the Save button at the bottom of the form; you will return to the My Settings Page.
- Click on the Home icon to return to your profile.
- Click on the Communicate tab and select "Group Roster" and you will see a summary of your personal information as part of our class list. (Details can be seen by clicking on the "User Profile" link under each entry on that page.)
- Communicate- ANGEL e-mail and discussion forums are found under
the Communicate tab in ANGEL . (See the ANGEL
Mail and Discussion
Forums documents for specific how-to information.
You have the option of forwarding a COPY of your course e-mail to your personal e-mail address. You will NOT be able to reply to class e-mail that way, but it is a way to be notified of e-mail sent to you in the course. If you are new to ANGEL, and you want your email forwarded (I highly recommend it), follow the directions below.- Select the Preferences icon in the left-hand navigation menu.
- Select the System Settings link.
- Scroll down to the Mail Settings subheading.
- Enter the e-mail address where you want COPIES of your course e-mail sent.
- From the "Forwarding Mode" pull down menu, select "Forward my course mail and keep as new in course."
- Click on the Save button at the bottom of the page to return to the "My Settings" page.
- Return to the course from your Profile.
- NOTE: You cannot reply to ANGEL course mail messages from outside ANGEL. You can only reply from within the course.
- Reports - Finally, the Report tab is where you will find things like your Learner Profile (a way for you, and me, to see what you have access and what you have completed in the course), and your Milestones (a handy list of everything "due" in the course, with color coded notations showing what you have completed).
Need help with ANGEL?
Any problems with ANGEL, especially those occurring during graded assignments, must be reported to ANGEL Support , preferably AT THE EXACT MOMENT that they occur. That way the ANGEL Support team will be able to validate glitches and fix system problems as they may occur.
If you are new to ANGEL, please review the Quick Guide for Students to acclimate yourself further! And even more how-to resources can be found by clicking on the "Help" button in the far left of your ANGEL window.
