Exporting a course creates a ZIP file of the course content called a course package. You can import course packages back into Blackboard Learn to create a new course with the same content. Exporting a course includes only the course content. The export doesn't include any user interactions such as blog posts or grades.

Don't unzip or extract a course or archive package. Don't remove files from the package or try to import a file contained with the package. You can only import or restore the course if the package is intact. Editing the ZIP file and then importing or restoring the package results in unstable and unpredictable behavior in the course.

Export a course

User created export and archive packages will expire and auto-delete 30 days after the creation date. Users will be notified of the expiration when they create, download, and in the course package list view for the course.

The Blackboard Learn packaging format follows the IMS Content Packaging Specification, with extensions to support content types that are specific to Blackboard Learn.

  1. On the Administrator Panel in the Courses section, select Courses.
  2. Point to Backup Actions and select Export Course.
  3. In the Source Course ID box, type a valid course ID. If you don't know the exact course ID, select Browse to search for the course.
  4. Select Submit.
  5. On the Export Course page, choose whether to include only the links to course files or to include the links and copies of the course files content.

    If you select Copy links and include copies of the content, select Calculate Size to ensure that the package size does not exceed the displayed Allowed package size. To remove files and folders from the package, select Manage Package Contents.

  6. In the Select Course Materials section, select the check boxes for each course area and tool to export.
  7. Select Submit.

Import a course

  1. On the Administrator Panel in the Courses section, select Courses.
  2. Select Import Package.
  3. Provide the Destination Course ID. If this course ID already exists in the database, Blackboard Learn adds the material from the imported course to the existing course. If this course ID doesn't exist in the database, Blackboard Learn creates a new course with this ID.
  4. In the Select a Package section, select Browse to navigate to the course package and select Open.
  5. In Select Course Materials, select the check boxes for each course area and tool to include in the destination course. To learn more about course materials and what Blackboard Learn imports for each item, see how content is handled.
  6. Select Submit.

Broken course links

If the imported sections of the course include links to materials that you don't import into the destination course, the links will break in the destination course. For example, if a course area links to a test but you don't import the assessments, the link to the test will break. After importing, edit the destination course to update or remove any broken links.

Course menu items

The imported course and the new course might have different content areas and course menu items. To learn more about how Blackboard Learn resolves duplication or conflicts in course menu items, see About Course Menus.

Delegated grading

When importing a course without enrollments into an existing course, the delegated setting is brought over as enabled for all existing delegated grading assignments. All current users who can reconcile are also set to grade all submissions.

Export and archive logs

  1. On the Administrator Panel in the Courses section, select Courses.
  2. Search for a course.
  3. Open the course's menu and select Export/Archive. The Export/Archive Course page lists all export or archive packages for this course that haven't been deleted from Blackboard Learn, even if you have already downloaded the package. The file names include the date and time the package was created.
  4. Open a ZIP file's menu.
  5. To view the package creation date and time and the status, select View Basic Log.
  6. To view the package creation date and time, status, and a list of course materials included in the package, select View Detailed Log.