Angel is the standard course management system at Penn State
Email:
Email can be sent to class members via ANGEL. This allows for the composition of a single email which goes to all current members of the class
roster. I use this feature to remind students of exam dates and send out supplements to course material such as diagrams and useful webpages.
Gradebook:
I use ANGEL to post student grades online. Students can check at any moment their current status in the course and see what assignments,
quizzes, or exams are coming up. They can also spot any errors in grading and bring them to my attention.
The ANGEL gradebook can also build a gradebook based on weights or formulas and allow complex grading structures with ease. The access
of Angel anywhere allows for instant information about a students grade. I can also export the gradebook periodically to keep a record on my laptop.
Lessons Tab:
I use the lessons tab to post lecture notes for every section presented in class as well as exam review materials. The students find the study
guides posted here to be of great help in exam preparation.
Quizzes:
Quizzes can be administered via Angel. One thing I have considered adding based on the success in Serge Ballif's class is a syllabus
quiz on Angel. This accomplishes two goals: 1. Students have to read and know the syllabus and 2. Students have to get used to being on
Angel to get useful course information.
Math XL (Akron):
Math XL was used in Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra when I taught at the University of Akron. It is an online tool where students
complete homework and quizzes online. They get 3 attempts on a problem and then the problem is reset with a similar one offering thousands
of different problems to practice in each chapter of the course. The only downside I noticed was that students began blaming the computer
program or their internet access for why they did not understand the material or get their assignment done.