Pratt Institute LMS Documentation

Prepared by: Laena McCarthy
Date: May 2011

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. LMS Structure

  3. Course Creation & Setup

  4. Course Maintenance & Updates

  5. User Roles & Permissions

  6. Assessments & Grading

  7. Student & Faculty Support

  8. Technical Guidelines & Troubleshooting

  9. Best Practices & Compliance

1. Introduction

This document provides guidelines for structuring, maintaining, and managing courses within Pratt Institute’s Learning Management System (LMS). The goal is to ensure consistent course delivery, seamless student experience, and compliance with accessibility standards.

2. LMS Structure

Core Components

  • Dashboard: Central hub for course navigation.

  • Modules: Weekly or topic-based learning sections.

  • Assignments & Quizzes: Integrated assessment tools.

  • Discussions & Collaboration Tools: Forums for student interaction.

  • Gradebook: Automated tracking of student progress.

LMS Platforms Used

  • Canvas (Primary LMS)

  • Blackboard (Legacy support)

  • Moodle (Supplementary use)

3. Course Creation & Setup

Steps for Course Setup:

  1. Course Shell Creation: Automatically generated at the beginning of each semester.

  2. Syllabus Upload: Faculty must upload an accessible syllabus using WCAG 2.2 guidelines.

  3. Module Structure:

    • Week 1: Course Introduction

    • Week 2-10: Core Instructional Content

    • Week 11-15: Assessments & Final Projects

  4. Content Upload:

    • PDF, video, and SCORM-compatible materials.

    • Interactive elements (e.g., H5P, quizzes).

  5. Student Enrollment: Auto-enrollment via Pratt SIS integration.

4. Course Maintenance & Updates

Key Responsibilities:

  • Faculty: Update content, manage discussions, grade assessments.

  • LMS Admins: System updates, faculty support, issue resolution.

  • IT Support: Technical troubleshooting.

Ongoing Maintenance:

  • Regular content updates to ensure relevance.

  • Quarterly accessibility audits.

  • Backup & Archiving: Courses archived every semester.

5. User Roles & Permissions

User Types & Access Levels:

  • Instructor: Full control over content, grading, and student interactions.

  • Teaching Assistant: Limited content and grading access.

  • Student: Access to assigned courses and discussions.

  • Admin: System-wide access for maintenance and troubleshooting.

6. Assessments & Grading

Assessment Types:

  • Quizzes & Exams: Timed and untimed assessments.

  • Assignments: File submissions, project-based work.

  • Discussions: Participation-based assessments.

  • Peer Reviews: Structured peer feedback on assignments.

Grading & Feedback:

  • Rubrics: Standardized rubrics for transparent grading.

  • Automated & Manual Grading: Faculty can use SpeedGrader in Canvas.

  • Feedback Integration: Audio, video, and written feedback options.

7. Student & Faculty Support

Support Resources:

  • Faculty Training: Monthly LMS workshops & one-on-one support.

  • Student Help Desk: Available via email, chat, and phone.

  • Knowledge Base: FAQs, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides.

8. Technical Guidelines & Troubleshooting

System Requirements:

  • Supported browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari.

  • Minimum device requirements: Desktop, tablet, or mobile with stable internet.

  • Recommended screen reader compatibility: JAWS, NVDA.

Common Issues & Solutions:

IssueSolutionLogin ProblemsReset password via Pratt login portalFile Upload ErrorsEnsure correct file format (PDF, DOCX, MP4)Missing Course ContentContact instructor or LMS admin

9. Best Practices & Compliance

Accessibility & WCAG 2.2 Compliance

  • Alt-text for images

  • Captioned videos

  • Keyboard navigable content

Data Privacy & Security

  • Compliance with FERPA & GDPR for student data.

  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for secure access.

Conclusion

This documentation provides a structured framework for effective LMS course management at Pratt Institute. Adhering to these guidelines ensures seamless learning experiences, compliance, and operational efficiency. This document is a sample created by Laena McCarthy as the new system was launching.