The Export Course feature creates a package of the course content that can later be imported into Blackboard and used to teach another course with the same content. It is important to note that, unlike the Archive Course feature, Export Course packages do not include any user interactions with the course—it only includes the content of the course. Therefore, Export Course is useful when course materials will be reused at a later time to teach a new set of Students. Archive Course is useful to maintain a record of a course after it has been taught.
Export packages are created as compressed .ZIP files and can be imported into Blackboard Learning System in the same format. Do not unzip an Export package, remove files from the package, or try to import a file contained with the package, otherwise the package will not be imported correctly.
Export packages from older versions of Blackboard Learning System can be imported into Blackboard Learning System , but Blackboard Learning System export files are not backward compatible with previous versions.
Click List/Modify Courses from the Administrator Panel.
Search for a course.
Click Properties for a course.
Click Course Utilities..
Click Export / Archive Manager from the Course Utilities page.
Click Export in the Action Bar of the Export / Archive Manager page.
Note: An Export Course option is also available on the Administrator Panel. If this option is selected, enter the Course ID on the Export Course page that appears and click Submit. Options appear to select the materials to include in the export package. Once the package has been created, the Administrator must open the Manage Exports page to download the course package.
The table below details the fields on the Export Course page.
Field
Description
Select a Course
Source Course ID
Enter the Course ID of the course that will be exported.
Select Course Materials
Select the option for each content area and tool in the course that should be exported. The Select course materials section below details these options.
The table below details what happens to each selectable option when the export is performed.
Course Material
Behavior when Exported
Content
Exports course materials, including uploaded files, Learning Units, and links. Users may also select to include Course Information, Course documents, Assignments and External Links.
Announcements
All Announcements are exported. If Assessment links appear in Course areas, then this option must be selected, or the link to the Assessment will be broken.
Tests, Surveys, and Pools
All Assessments and Surveys, including questions and options for deploying them are imported. All Pools are exported to the new course.
Calendar
All Calendar items are exported to the new course.
Course Settings
Some Course Settings will be exported. See Course Setting below for more information.
Discussion Board
Discussion Board forums, including the initial message in the Discussion Board, are exported.
Gradebook Items and Settings
Items in the Gradebook, and their settings, such as type, categories, and display options, are exported.
Group Settings
Settings include the names of the Groups, the settings for tool availability, and the Discussion Board forum names.
Staff Information
All Staff Information is exported.
When Course Settings is selected, settings are exported. These include the following
Course Name
Course Description
Course Entry Point
Course Design
Course Banner
Blackboard Tools
Building Block Tools
Content Tools
Course ID
Course Availability
Guest Access
Observer Access
Course Duration
Enrollment Options
Note: For information about which of these settings are included during a import operation, see the Import Course topic.
The Blackboard packaging format follows the IMS Content Packaging Specification with extensions to support content types specific to Blackboard Learning System. Blackboard Learning System uses
IMS Content and Packaging Specification 1.1.2
IMS Metadata Specification 1.2.1
IMS Enterprise Specification 1.01
IMS Question and Test Interoperability Specification 1.2
After the Export Course page is submitted, the system creates the course package. When the package is complete, the Administrator who initiated the operation receives an email. This email includes a link to the log file contents of the package. After the email is received, Administrators may open the Export / Archive Manager page in the Blackboard application and download the course package to the local computer.