Deciding between course copy and export

Recommended FAQ → How do I copy my Blackboard course?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EXPORT AND A COURSE COPY?

The export course feature creates a ZIP file of the course content that you can import to create a new course or share content some Blackboard-specific course resources with other instructors.

When to use: Export a course when you want to reuse course materials at a later time to teach a new set of students. For example, you have an exported course from 2 years ago and no longer have access to the course shell or system where the original course was hosted. Another example is sharing the exported course with others, but you do not want to add those users to your course as instructors.
Assignments and assessments may need to be redeployed and configured with each time.
Note: An Archive contains course content and student data. It can only be restored by a Blackboard system administrator.

You can copy courses and use them as a convenient way to reuse and adapt existing course structures, materials, and content. Or copy part of one course into another without overwriting any of the existing course's content. A course copy does not require you to download a file from one course or to upload the file to another course.

When to use: Copy a course if you are creating a course that has many of the same features as an existing course (e.g., 2 courses use the same materials but have a different set of students).
Assignments and assessments typically deploy as originally configured in the source course.

Important Tips for Copying Content in Blackboard

GETTING READY TO COPY A COURSE

Make sure the course is clean and ready to go.
Check the course links and external links, and verify there are no duplicate files or tests.
Migrate media files to YouTube or UMBC Box to improve the efficiency of your course's overall performance.
Request a development course shell to centralize all of your course's content and never lose a document, resource or learning object again!

COPYING A COURSE

In Ultra, you will use Copy Items, either for the entire course or contextually to copy items to specific areas of the course.
- If you need a new course shell, please open an RT ticket.
In an Original course, if you do not Select All, you must choose at least one of these areas: Content, Contacts, or Settings for the course copy to function.
- Content area with existing assignments and tests must be copied WITH the Grade Center Columns and Settings for those items to deploy properly. Otherwise, you will have to recreate all of the assignments and redeploy all of the tests.
Blackboard will send you an email when the course copy is complete. Any warning messages in the log can probably be ignored, but fatal errors should be reported via RT ticket.
Once a course is copied, it should not be copied again unless the destination shell is purged first. Blackboard does not overwrite the course when it is copied again so you will end up with duplicate content. However you can copy individual pieces of content or folders to update a course.

AFTER A COURSE COPY

Review dates for adaptive release and assignment deadlines using the Batch Edit tool (Ultra) or Date Management tool (Original).
Review and clean up discussion forums in case previous student postings copied into the new course.

COPYING A FOLDER OR INDIVIDUAL ITEM

Individual pieces of content or content folders can be copied between courses as long as you are enrolled in the course shell as an instructor or course builder.

COPYING A TEST

An individual test can be copied in a non-deployed state -- it cannot be copied from a content area in one course shell to another course shell.
You can export the test from Original, but you cannot import it to Ultra. You must use the Copy Items tool.

COPYING A RUBRIC

In Ultra, you can Copy rubrics between Original and Ultra courses or Ultra to Ultra courses. An individual rubric can only be exported between Original courses.