1. Sark Co. implements a learning management system (LMS) called Blackboard to provide online training for employees. The ID and IT department's mission is to advance employees' knowledge and careers through electronic technologies. 2. Detailed policies and procedures govern the use of Blackboard, including course development standards, accessibility, and an instructional template. User roles, training requirements, and an organizational chart are also defined. 3. Blackboard will allow Sark Co. to easily create online training, engage employees through social learning, standardize training globally, and promote leadership development.

1. Sark Co. and Blackboard
Policies and Procedures

2. Mission and Vision
The mission of the ID and IT
department at SARK is to
provide quality instruction
through electronic
technologies to enable
employees to advance their
knowledge bases and
careers to enhance our
company’s service and
support our long term goals
and vision

3. Policies and Procedures
Overall
● Courses available via LMS
● New course development procedures
● Quarterly course review
● Standard workplace code of conduct
applies
● Facilitators will be trained
● Facilitators will be evaluated
● Disabilities will be accommodated
Publication and Outreach
Centralized website with:
● Program overview
● Archives
● Staff contacts
● Curriculum
● Calendar

4. Template for LMS-based Instruction
All courses will follow the
instructional template.
All graphics, logos and fonts
will follow approved Sark, Co.
style guidelines
Adapted from: Kuhlmann, T. (n.d.)

5. Detailed Instructional Structure
All courses will have a dedicated content
area comprised of three learning objects
(LO)

6. Sark, Co.
- IT/LMS Help Desk
- All employees call
here
Call for:
-Help with login or
credentials
-Issues with courses,
assessments or
certificates
-Training questions
Blackboard
- only contacted by
appropriate Sark, Co.
managerial team
-Training
-Product Support
-Tech Support (advanced)
-Hosting
Blackboard Online
- All employees
help.blackboard.com
-instructions,blogs,help files,
best practices
-and-
www.youtube.com/user/Blac
kboardTV
-screencast videos
Where to turn for assistance

7. Timeline for implementation
All courses will be completed
and loaded into Blackboard 4
weeks prior to launch
4-2 weeks prior to launch
- LO and assessments will be
tested
- Sark, Co. legal will review for
compliance
- Any necessary edits completed

8. User Procedures
User Roles
System roles: Held by the directors of training and IT to control access and
administrative features
Institutional roles: Instructional designer and IT managers control what users
see when they log on to the system
Course and organization roles: Employees hold these roles for both learning
and teaching
Custom roles: The administrators can define roles as needed to carry out
specific tasks
Blackboard Inc, User Roles

9. Organizational Chart:
Instructional Design and Information Management Department
Staff in the ID/IM department will
be responsible for ensuring that
the LMS system is operating
properly.
Please contact the IT/LMS Help
Desk with any questions or
concerns

10. User Procedures
Course Creation and Request
Courses are not automatically created and must follow the approved template and timeline. At Sark,
Co. employee training courses are created by members of the Instructional Design team. Instructional
Design team members have access to the Course request form on the Blackboard website. All
requests for courses must be approved by the Director of Training.
Course Content Management
Blackboard course content is managed and maintained by the Manager of Instructional Design.
Course Size
The maximum size for Blackboard courses is 300MB. A system‐generated warning will be sent to the
course instructor when the course nears the 300MB size limit. Large courses impede the functions of
the Blackboard system and become difficult to archive and restore.
(TEAL Center)

11. User Procedures
Roster Uploads
Upon hiring all employees will be enrolled in Blackboard to have access to basic onboarding courses.
Annual training rosters will be verified by Department Managers for compliance courses. Employees
will be able to self-enroll in enrichment courses and elective study courses as they wish. Enrollment
for enrichment classes is ongoing and listings of courses will be available on the Blackboard website
and on the Sark, Co. employee intranet.
Course Access
Course access is granted to the registered instructor and students. Department managers may be
added upon their request and at the discretion of the Director of Training.
(TEAL Center)

12. User Procedures
Administrator Access
Only the Blackboard Administrators and SARK staff members are granted administrative access to a
course and may enter a course without permission to assist a faculty member or student.
Course Security
Blackboard is a password protected system. All users are cautioned against sharing their passwords
with others. Only the Blackboard Administrators, SARK staff, instructor of record, students and others
the instructor of record deems appropriate have access to a course.
(TEAL Center)

13. Training Before Teaching a Class
The Blackboard Training Center and SARK require the following courses are
completed prior to teaching a class:
● Building Courses
● Enhancing Communications
● Assessing Learners
● Building Online Communities
Instructional Designers should also complete the following in addition to administrative
courses
● Designing Engaging Content (Blackboard Training Center, 2015)

14. Prerequisite Training
Prerequisite training for new unit members before operating Blackboard:
New user class: Navigating Blackboard for Workplace Success
● Asynchronous class designed to show new employees how to navigate through the Blackboard
training portal with ease. Employees will learn how to:
:
● Configure their computer to be able to use Blackboard without errors
● Log into Blackboard
● Enroll in a course
● Use the Discussion Board
● Take a test
● Access grades
● Getting Additional Help
(Towson University)

15. Summary of Benefits
1. Easily create instructor-led courses that use a variety of content
2. Facilitate the transfer of knowledge from internal top performers or subject-matter
experts to other employees
3. Allow employees to use mobile devices to access content
4. Tap social learning tools to engage employees and keep them coming back to gain
deeper knowledge
5. Offer flexibility with self-paced asynchronous courses or all-at-once instruction via
synchronous sessions
6. Standardize training across a global organization and reduce associated travel
expenses.
7. Promote and enable mentoring that fosters leadership development
8. Get more from your training investment by repurposing content for a variety of
employee audiences and courses
(Blackboard, 2014)

16. References:
Blackboard. (2014). LMS evaluation guide ebook [PDF]. Retrieved from
https:/images.email.blackboard.com/Web/BlackboardInc/{d7165201-8a7d-46b2-bc23-
fd096e58ad9e}_Blackboard_ProEd_LMS_EvalGuide.pdf
Blackboard Inc. 1997-2015 Retrieved from: http://www.blackboard.com/business
Blackboard. (2015). User roles and privileges. Retreived from: https://help.blackboard.com/en-
us/Learn/9.1_SP_12_and_SP_13/Administrator/170_User_Management/030_About_User_Roles_and_Privileges
Blackboard Training Registration Center.. (2015). Retrieved from
https://trainingcenter.blackboard.com/Public/Course/Browse?viewstate=e30%3D
Kuhlmann, T. (n.d.). How to create an e-learning template that works. The Rapid eLearning Blog. [Web log.] Articulate Network.
Retrieved from: http://blogs.articulate.com/rapid-elearning/how-to-create-an-e-learning-template-that-works/
TEAL Center. (2011). Blackboard policies and procedures for Coastal Carolina University [PDF]. Retrieved from
https://www.coastal.edu/blackboard/BBPoliciesV1.pdf
Towson University (n.d.). Student Orientation Quick Start. Blackboard [Web log.]. Retrieved from:
http://www.towson.edu/blackboard/studentorientationcourse.asp