ANGEL & Alternative Media Critical Consultations Coming Up

Hi all,

Begining this semester, couse space in ANGEL was limited to 1-gig per course. The limitation was necessitated because after a course exceeds 1-gig of space it becomes unstable. Issues arise regarding importing, exporting, and uploading content. Additionally, use of ANGEL continues to increase. For example, currently there are 8,670 active course sections in ANGEL. We peaked last year at 7,485. So we're growing. This is great news but with growth comes growing pains and working around the limitations to an ANGEL course brought on by growth is one of them.

Beginning last summer we worked with identified faculty members whose courses historically have come close to or exceeded the space limitation to begin placing large multi-media files in alternative storage areas and linking to them though ANGEL. We moved video files to the streaming video server and audio files to the podcast server (now Penn State on iTunes), etc.

Now, as the semester is at the halfway mark we are running into another issues. Courses are coming close to exceeding the 1-gig space limitation due to student uploads, primarily though drop boxes but also uploads to discussion forums. We are in the process of identifying the faculty members whose courses are coming up to the limit to work with them on solutions. That is where all of us come in.

Starting immediately, although realistically probably not until next week, we will need to meet and consult with these faculty members. Identified faculty members will be sent an email with a list of possible alternative file storage spaces (attached is a copy for you). In that email we will ask them to use these alternatives and if they are not comfortable doing so, they will be directed to our TLA site and asked to submit a request for a consultation. Dan will assign these following our usual procedures. However, due to the sensitive nature of the situation, we do not want faculty & students to be unable to use their course, these consults will be given a priority. Therefore, it is imperative we meet with them as soon as we can. If we can't meet an assignment let Dan and me know right away so we can make other arrangements.

For now, I need you to read over the attached document and go to the site links in the document and poke around. In other words, get comfortable with the material. Post questions you have to the blog. We'll arrange training for any issues we cannot address via the blog.

This is a great opportunity for us to gain experience with just-in-time, critical consultations.

Please let me know if you have any questions. More information will be coming, and perhaps rapidly, so check back to the blog often.

Regards,

Jeff