University of Rochester
Copy or Export/Import Course
If you have developed course materials in Blackboard in a previous semester, you may want to move them into a current course by copying or exporting, then importing.
FYI before you begin:
If your source course is from a previous semester, it will probably not appear under Courses Online on the Main tab. You will need to switch to the Courses tab to find a link to the course.
Both of these methods will ADD, not replace content in the destination course. It may be less confusing in the end if you delete Course Menu items in the destination course before you begin the copy or import.
Library reserves (including e-reserve readings, video or audio reserves) cannot be copied from one semester to the next. You will need to contact the reserve librarians at RRLReserves@library.rochester.edu to get reserves from a previous semester reactivated.
Exporting Your Course
1. Enter the original or "source" course.
2. Under Control Panel,
use the pulldown next to "Packages and Utilities" to choose Export/Archive course.
On the next screen, you will probably find that there are no existing export files. You will now create an export file by clicking the “Export” button.
3) You will now be presented with a list of all possible Bb content and tools that might be in your course. Choose any elements that you want to copy into the destination course.
If you are copying assignments or tests, be sure to also check “Grade Center Columns and Settings” Otherwise assignments and tests will not copy over.
Note that if you copy Settings, and the source course is Available, the new course will be set to Available. If you choose Settings and you want the new course to remain unavailable, be sure to switch it back off after the copy is complete (Main tab - click on the green "O" next to the course).
Always be sure to select "Copy Links and copies of the content." This should be selected by default.
When you’ve selected everything you want to copy, click Submit.
Blackboard will confirm your request and send you an email
when the export file is complete.
Once you’ve received the email saying your export is complete, return to the source course, go to Packages and Utilities and choose Export/Archive course as you did in Step 2. You should now see your export file listed. Click on the hyperlinked file name to download the file.
Now enter the course where you want to import the materials, the "destination" course.
In this course, under the Control Panel, use the pulldown next to Packages and Utilities to choose Import Package (NOT import Course Cartridge)
On the next screen, click the Import Package button
Navigate to the location on your local computer where you downloaded the export file from the source course and choose it.
In Step 4, choose all the items you want to import.
Click Submit.
In a few minutes, you will get an email notifying you that the process is complete. Please note: this may or may not be the case. It frequently happens that the email arrives before the copy is done. If you go to the destination course and do not see the content, please wait another half hour or so before concluding that your copy or import has failed.
Copying Your Course
1. Enter the original or "source" course.
2. Under Control Panel, use the pulldown next to "Packages and Utilities" to choose Course Copy.
1. On the next screen, select "Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course." (NB: Instructors do not have system permissions to create new courses.)
2.a. To select the "destination" course, click the "Browse" button. It will list all courses in which you are the instructor.
2.b. From the list in Item 2 on this screen, choose any elements that you want to copy into the destination course.
2.c. If you are copying assignments or tests, be sure to also check “Grade Center Columns and Settings..” Otherwise assignments and tests will not copy over.
2.d. Note that if you copy Settings, and the source course is Available, the new course will be set to Available. If you choose Settings and you want the new course to remain unavailable, be sure to switch it back off after the copy is complete (Main tab - click on the green "O" next to the course).
3. Be sure "Copy links and copies of Content" is selected.
4. Do not include enrollments.
5. Submit
In a few minutes, you will get an email notifying you that the process is complete. Please note: this may or may not be the case. It frequently happens that the email arrives before the copy is done. If you go to the destination course and do not see the content, please wait another half hour or so before concluding that your copy or import has failed.