Creating and Editing Files in ANGEL

The best way to edit files that were not created in ANGEL is to do so offline. When you work offline (using an HTML editor or SoftChalk) it may appear that you have problems replacing the old file with the new. To successfully replace a file:

1. You need to click on the Utilities option (appears under the filename you want to replace),
2. Select the Re-upload option,
3. Browse to find the updated version of your file on your computer that you want to upload.

It won't work just to delete the old file and give the new file the same name--it'll look like your work was lost and ANGEL is still using the old file (ANGEL caches pages and you’ll see the old content until you log out or clear your browser’s cache).

One benefit of working offline and keeping your files in a local spot is you’re never dependent upon the ANGEL server to store your work—you just need to trust your computer and your own methods of backing up your work. By keeping copies on your local hard drive, the content stored in ANGEL becomes just another archive copy of your work, but not the only place you store your data (which probably represents hours of labor).

Thanks to Monica Hogan, Center for Teaching & Learning Distance Learning Associate, for this tip.

Using PowerPoint Slideshows and ANGEL

From the work we do with faculty involved in our ANGEL training sessions, it’s obvious that many of the participants in our transition pilot are using PowerPoint slideshows as part of their course content. So here are a few suggestions.

1. Remember that a PowerPoint slideshow is intended to accompany a “presentation.” That is, it’s meant to be accompanied by a verbal explanation and not to stand on its own.
2. Accepted practice for PowerPoint slides is to apply the 6x6 rule. That is, no more than six words per line (don’t use complete sentences because a presenter should never read a Power Point slide verbatim) and no more than six bullets per slide. That 6x6 rule works for presentations where the text serves as a teaser for the narration added by the speaker.
3. If your PowerPoint slideshow is “wordier” than the 6x6 rule (that is, you have complete sentences of text), and you’re using the slideshow as part of an online class, ask yourself why? Rather than use a bulky medium (PowerPoint) to convey sentences and paragraphs of information, why not just use a web page containing the information? Better yet, use SoftChalk to better format, design and present your content. Additionally, by using SoftChalk you can add text poppers (text that when rolled over displays a pop-up text box with definitions or additional notes), sidebars, inline practice quiz questions, images with hotspots, sidebars of related information, and other interactive learning activities. PowerPoint slideshows cannot integrate any of those features.
4. If you really want to include the PowerPoint slideshow and the necessary audio track to make it useful to your students, then use Camtasia to capture the slides, add the audio and still make the file size small enough to be easily accessed online (Camtasia can output a Flash video file).
5. Finally, if we cannot wrestle away your PowerPoint slideshows, at least minimize their size by using PPTminimizer.