Archiving a course creates a permanent record of the course including all of the content and user interactions and becomes useful in maintaining a record of a course after it has been taught.
If you only need to retain a copy of the course materials, such as files, Assignments, or Tests, and not the student records, you should create a course export instead of an archive.
While you can import a course export into any course yourself, you will need to contact the Division of IT to have an archive restored into Blackboard.
Including the Grade Center History can increase the file size and processing time. Similarly, selecting the option to include copies of the files outside of the default course directory (i.e., in the Content Collection) can greatly increase the file size.
Note: It is important that to keep the archive package intact, i.e., not unzipped, or any files removed it; otherwise the package will not be imported correctly later on.
Once you have archived your course, you may want to store the .zip file in Microsoft OneDrive so that it is backed up and accessible to you from any computer. This is safer than storing it on your NIU or home computer.
Course exports and archives use the same tool in the Ultra Course View. The only distinction is whether you include student activity in your export. If you include the activity data, you are generating an Archive that can only be restored by the Division of IT.
Note: It is important that to keep the archive package intact, i.e., not unzipped, or any files removed it; otherwise the package will not be imported correctly later on.
Once you have archived your course, you may want to store the .zip file in Microsoft OneDrive so that it is backed up and accessible to you from any computer. This is safer than storing it on your NIU or home computer.
The Export Course tool can be used to backup and export from Blackboard the entire course or just select portions of the course. Student records are never saved with an export of the course. Visit the Exporting a Course page for more information.
815-753-8100
servicedesk@niu.edu