It is always a good idea to have a backup of your Blackboard course in your own hands. To create a backup file, please follow these steps for each course:

Go to the Control Panel and look under “Course Options” for two options, Export Course and Archive Course. Which should you choose?

Export Course:

• Creates a package of the course content that can later be imported and used to teach another course with the same content.
• Student work (tests taken, grades, assignments submitted, messages posted, etc.) is not included.
• You can choose which areas you would like to export.

Archive Course:

• Creates a permanent record of a course including content and user interactions.
• Student work is included (hence useful for keeping a record of your course as required by CUNY).
• You cannot choose which areas to archive; the entire course is archived.

Both choices create a single file in compressed format with a filename ending in .zip. This file is not meant to be viewed on its own; it is designed to be imported back into a Blackboard course.

You can export/archive your course as many times as you wish. This means that you can create both an export file and an archive file if you wish.

 

Go to exporting instructions

Go to archiving instructions

Instructions for Exporting

1. If you clicked on Export Course, in the next screen, check off the areas you want to export/save, then click the Submit button.

Step 1

2. Click where it says "Click here to download the generated package file." You can also right-click on the link and choose Save Target/Link As. Please note that the Export Log might generate some errors; usually they are minor (though occasionally incomprehensible).

Step 2

3. In the next dialog box, click Save.

Step 3

4. Notice the location of the file and file name. If you want save to a different location or rename the file, you can do so now. Then click Save.

Step 4

Keep the file in a safe place (you can copy it like any other file onto another location in your computer, onto a CD, etc.)! If you ever need to import this file into a new Blackboard course, please read our FAQ on copying courses.

Instructions for Archiving

1. If you clicked on Archive Course, in the next screen, click Submit.

Step 1

2. Click where it says "Click here to download the generated package file." You can also right-click on the link and choose Save Target/Link As. Please note that the Archive Log might generate some errors; usually they are minor (though occasionally incomprehensible).

Step 2

3. In the next dialog box, click Save.

Step 3

4. Notice the location of the file and file name. If you want save to a different location or rename the file, you can do so now. Then click Save.

Step 4

Keep the file in a safe place (you can copy it like any other file onto another location in your computer, onto a CD, etc.)! If you ever need to import this file into a new Blackboard course, please read our FAQ on copying courses.