Course Copy

Can I copy materials from one course to another?

Blackboard offers two ways to copy materials from course to course, both through the Control Panel. In order to copy materials between courses, the faculty member must be listed as Faculty Member in both courses, the source (where the original materials resides) and the destination (the course into which the materials will be copied). Entire sections of a course can be copied using the Course Copy feature, while individual documents or folders can be copied from the Action Link menu next to the item in the Course Content area. Click here to learn more about Course Copy.

Can I copy individual documents form one course to another?

Yes, but not through the "Course Copy" option. To copy individual folders or files:

1. Click the Action Link next to the folder or file to be copied, and choose either Copy or Move from the menu
   Note: Copy makes a duplicate of the item; Move removes the item from the original location
2. Select the Destination Course from the drop-down menu
3. Click the Browse button and select the folder for the copied item
4. Click the Submit button

Can I copy files from another Faculty Member's course?

Yes, but you must be listed as a Faculty Member in both the Source and Destination courses.

I have tried to copy from my shell course to my actual course and keep getting errors... and when I tried to export, I also got errors. I am using a course cartridge from Course Technology, but I really don't want to have to start all over.

Most course cartridge content is intentionally copy-protected so you cannot copy it. Unless the cartridge manufacturer has specifically told you that you should be able to copy it from one course to another, you will need to get another cartridge import key and use that to import to the actual course before any other changes are made to the actual course. Once the cartridge has imported into the actual course you can add other content and make other changes.

Can tests and quizes be copied from one course to another?

You can copy tests between courses if you use Course Copy, and you copy Tests, Surveys and Pools, the Content Area the test is deployed in, and the Grade Center Columns and Settings.  

Note:  It is imporant that all three of the options be selected during the Course Copy process. 

Another option is to export the test from the course you created it in and then import the test into the second course. The test must then be redeployed in the second course. 

To export a test, go to the Control Panel > Course Tools > Tests, Surveys, and Pools > Tests. Then click the action link (the double down arrow) next to the test you created. From the menu, select Export to Local Computer. Save the exported file to your computer.  It will be a .zip file. Do not make any changes to the zip file.

In the second course, follow the same path to navigate to the Test manager. Click the Import Test button and find the file on your computer. Once the test has been Imported, you can deploy the test and and set the options.

IMPORTANT - If you want the quizzes to also be deployed automatically (ie: available to students) in your new course, when performing the copy, you also need to copy whatever Content Areas that the deployed quizzes reside in as well as the Grade Center Columns and Settings to ensure that the quizzes are deployed in the desired Content Areas in your new course. Otherwise, if you just copy the "Tests, Surveys, and Pools" you'll simply need to re-deploy each quiz to the desired Content Area after you make whatever modifications you need.

When I copy content from one course to another, can I also copy my adaptive release rules?

Yes. Adaptive release criteria general to the course content can be copied to another course. Criteria that are specific to the enrollment of a particular section will not be captured if the enrollments are not copied with the content. User-specific adaptive release rules must be re-established in the destination course after being copied.

I copied my Assessments content area, but the Assignments in that content area did not show up in my destination course. What went wrong?

Because Assignments are tied to the Grade Center, in order for Assignments to successfully copy it is necessary to select both the Content Area the assignment is in and Grade Center Columns and Settings when performing a Course Copy.

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Last Updated:11/04/2011