Exporting a Course

Course Exports are backups of your course materials as a .zip package that you can save and store outside of Blackboard. The export includes all of the course content, such as files, Assignments, and Tests. The export package can later be imported into Blackboard and used to teach another course with the same material.

If you need to retain student records from the course, you should download the Gradebook as a spreadsheet. You can also include student activity when you export a course, but if you do, you will need to contact the Division of IT to have it restored into Blackboard.

The following course items are automatically included in a Course Export:

Course content, including Files, Documents, Folders, and Learning Modules
Assessments, including Assignments and Tests
Rubrics associated to assignments
Calendar events, including office hours and course schedule
Discussions
Gradebook settings
Manual gradebook items
Goals alignments
Course announcements

Export Your Course

On the Course Content page, click the three dots (...) on the right side above the content list
Click Export Course Package
In the pop-up message, click No to exclude student activity data from the export
When the export process is complete, the .zip file appears in the panel; click the .zip file to download it

Note: It is important to keep the Export package intact, i.e., not unzipped, or any files removed it; otherwise the package will not be imported correctly later on.

Once you have exported 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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How do I export an older course that uses the Original Course View? Updated

To export a course using the Original Course View:

In the course that you'd like to export, click Packages and Utilities in the Control Panel, then click Export/Archive Course
Click the Export Package button
Under the Course Files Default Directory, leave the default Copy links and include copies of the files in the course default directory selected
Under Select Course Materials check the boxes for all the materials and tool settings you'd like to Export. It is recommended to check all the boxes, even if you didn't use some of the tools in your course, so that you have a complete Export
Click the Submit button

This will cue the export process. Once the export is ready for you to download, you will receive an email. Once you receive the email, you'll need to go back to the course you are exporting to the Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course area and then click on the link of the export file that is displayed and save the file to your computer.

Note that Original Course View is nearing end-of-life. At some point, it will no longer be possible to re-import a course package for a course that used the Original Course View. If you want to retain these course materials, you may want to request a Shell in Blackboard and copy the materials from the Original Course View into the Ultra Course View.

Can I open the exported or archived course and look at the documents?

No, the exported course can only be viewed by reloading it to Blackboard.

How do I put my exported or archived course back into Blackboard? Updated

To load an exported course, use the Import Package feature. You can only import compressed files in ZIP and IMSCC format.

On the Course Content page, open the menu on the right side above the content list (the ellipsis ... menu at the top of the course content list)
Click Import Content
Click Import Course Content to find and select the course package from your device storage

If you included student data in your export (in the Ultra Course View) or if you created an archive (in the Original Course View), you are not able to restore the package directly into a course. Open a ticket with the Division of IT to request that they restore the archive for you.

Are student records included in the Export? Updated

In the Ultra Course View, only the course content is included unless you click the checkbox to include student data. Note that if you include student data, this creates an archive package that you cannot re-import. You will need to contact the Division of IT to import an archive.

Will students in groups be exported?

No, only the structure of the groups (group names, settings, discussion forums) will be exported.