RESOLVED: eCast Video Upload Unavailable

UPDATE: The eCast service has been restored to full functionality. Audio and Video files can now be uploaded.

The eCast system is currently not processing any user-submitted audio or video uploads. This issue occurs during the submission process, but no error message is displayed when the upload fails.

The system will continue to display existing podcasts, videos, and episodes correctly, but no new content can be uploaded at this time.

We are investigating the issue and will restore proper uploading processes as soon as possible.

Regards,
CTL Tech Services

Electronic Grade Submission

The University is taking its first steps to move from a paper-based final grade entry process to a system-based final grade entry process by implementing an electronic method for instructors, departments and faculties to enter, submit and approve final grade information for students. This will replace the manual process that is currently in place.

The new functionality will allow instructors to either download a class grade roster spreadsheet from Beartracks to input grades, download an appropriate gradebook spreadsheet from eClass (Moodle), or enter grades directly. Though there will not be a one-click solution to upload grades directly from eClass (Moodle) at this time, this simpler and more transparent process will increase efficiencies and conserve resources across campus.

All instructors, departments and faculties are expected to start using this automated process starting during the Winter 2012 term. An overview of the new grades process is available at  http://www.ais.ualberta.ca/ (see Current AIS Projects - Grades Presentation). If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Barry Scott (AIS Project Manager) at barry.scott(at)ualberta.ca  or 492-2815.

Emergency ePortfolio (Mahara) Outage Today (January 24, 2012) at 5PM

The eClass ePortfolio system (Mahara) will be unavailable at 5:00pm today, January 24th, 2012, for an emergency system update. The update should take approximately an hour to complete and will not affect regular eClass users.

Please postpone any teaching activities already scheduled for this time slot. All users should also ensure that they complete and save any work they might be doing on the system before 5PM today - any unsaved work may be lost.

We apologize for any inconvenience this required outage may cause - if you have any questions, please contact us at ctl_at_ualberta.ca or by phone at 780-492-9372.

Using Online Question Banks

The latest release of Respondus has an excellent new feature that simplifies the process of using textbook publishers’ question banks. These supplementary resources have been available from publishers for some time but now incorporating them into eClass courses has become much easier.

Respondus is centrally supported Windows software, available as a free download from the CTL website for U of A faculty and staff. The program will walk you through accessing your publisher’s question banks, allow you to manipulate and organize questions, and then publish questions directly into quizzes in your eClass courses. See http://www.ctl.ualberta.ca/elearning/eClass/respondus.php for more details on how to download and use this tool.

If you have any problems or questions about how to get started using Respondus, don’t hesitate to email us at respondus@ualberta.ca.