ANGEL Community Hub

On May 19, Information Technology Services (ITS) plans to upgrade Penn State’s Course Management System, ANGEL, to version 7.1. The new version will sport a streamlined interface that provides students with a more convenient way to access course information as well as monitor their progress.

Here are 5 things students should be aware of as we get closer to the upgrade; some things familiar and some different:

1. The new tabs, Resources and Reports. The Resources tab combines the information previously located on the Welcome page along with the course resources, e.g., the library and other related links to course materials, the instructor makes available. The Resources tab is where you should go to read Course Announcements and Course News as well as take any polls the instructor makes available.

All progress reports found under the Tools tab are now housed under the Report tab. The Report tab is where you go to view your grades (if the instructor is using the Course Gradebook), your Learner Profile and your activity logs.

2. The new guide tool. Located at the top of the left-hand frame, the guide incorporates the course map, the What's New agent, and the search feature along with a new tool, Tasks. Tasks are items requiring your attention such as milestones, unread mail and unread discussion forum posts.

3. A familiar tab is being renamed. The In Touch tab is now called the Communicate tab. All the tools you are used to using are still there. Additionally, this is where your course roster and team files are viewed.

4. The Class tab and the Tools tab are gone. Your course roster and team files are now located under the Communicate tab (see #3). Grades are now viewed under the Reports tab (see #1). And, course resources, such as the link to the library tools are now found under the Resources tab (see #1).

5. The new navigational buttons (Home, Log off, Help, and Preferences) replace the text-based links previously found on the top-right and left-hand side of the screen. The navigational buttons are are visible on every screen.

Bonus info! The Syllabus, Calendar, and Lessons tabs are still there. All the tools (quizzes, drop boxes, meeting dates, etc.) you are used to using are intact and these tabs are still the first three tabs listed when you enter your course.