Chapter 3—Course Utilities

Overview

This chapter reviews the features for deleting, moving, and backing up courses.

In this chapter

Chapter 3—Course Utilities includes the following topics.

Topic	Description
Remove Course	This topic covers the Remove Course page that Administrators use to remove a course.
Copy Course	This topic covers the Copy Course page used to add content from one course to another.
Copy Course Materials into a New Course	This topic covers the Copy Course Materials (but not users) into a New Course page. This page is used to create a new course with content from another course.
Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course	This topic covers the Copy Course Materials (but not users) into an Existing Course page. This page is used to add content from one course into another.
Course Copy with Users (Exact Copy)	This topic covers the Course Copy with Users (Exact Copy) page. This page is used to create a duplicate course including users and enrollments.
Import Course	This topic covers the Import Course page used to add a package containing an exported course from this page.
Export Course	This topic covers the Export Course page used to create a package of course content for use at a later time.
Archive Course	This topic covers the Archive Course page used to create an incremental backup of a specific course.
Restore Course	This topic covers the Restore Course page used to add a package of an archived course to the system from this page.
Batch Import/Export/Archive/ Restore Course	This topic covers the command line tool for batch import/export/archive/restore operations.
Batch Copy Course	This topic covers the command line tool for batch copying courses.
Adding File Types for Use with Content Items	This topic covers the recognized file types for attachments to Content Items and how Administrators can add additional recognized file types.

What is the difference between export, archive, copy, and recycle for a course?

The Blackboard Learning System includes several tools for reusing courses and course content. The tools are:

Export/Import: Export takes course content and puts it in a package that can be used in another course at a later date. One or more course areas can be included in the package. This is an effective means of reusing a course or parts of a course to teach another set of students next semester or for backing up content without keeping Student interactions.

Copy: Course Copy adds content from one Course to another. This is useful when teaching the same Course during the same term to different sets of Students. Course Copy is the best way to share content across multiple sections of the same course.

Recycle: Recycling a Course removes User interactions with the Course while keeping the content intact. This is useful when teaching the same Course to a new set of Students.

Archive/Restore: The Archive Course function creates a record of the Course including User interactions. It is most useful for recalling Student performance or interactions at later time. The archive package is saved as a .ZIP file that can be restored to the system at another time. In effect, Archive/Restore acts as a backup tool at the individual course level (although it is not a replacement for a fully formed, server-side backup and restore process!).