Blackboard Ultra (Faculty) - Export/Import: Exporting or Importing a Course Package

Exporting a Course Package

Exporting your Blackboard Ultra course allows you to save a copy of your course materials to your computer. This can be useful for backing up your course content or for transferring it to another Blackboard course shell. The following instructions explain how to export a Blackboard Ultra course. To export a course from the original Blackboard Learn, refer to Blackboard (Faculty) - Export/Import: Export Course Materials

Steps to Export a Course Package:

1. Navigate to the Blackboard Ultra course. 
2. In the Content tab, to the far right of the Course Content label, locate and click the ellipsis (...) icon.
3. A panel menu will appear. Select Export Course Package.
   
   
   
   
4. A new panel menu will appear titled Export/Archive Course. Click the Export Course icon, which looks like a box with an arrow pointing out of its top-right corner.
   
   
   
   
5. A a pop-window may appear asking about including student activity data in your export. Click No.
6. The export process may take a few minutes. This is especially true if the course contains many large files. When the export is complete, an email will be sent from the Blackboard Administrator to your SIUE email address. 
7. Click the newly created .zip file listed in the Export/Archive Course panel to download it. The download time will vary depending on the size of the course.
   
   

Important Considerations:

• Student data is generally not included in the export. If you need to retain student submissions and grades, contact the ITS Help Desk for assistance.
• The exported package is a .zip file. Do not unzip the file. If your package is unzipped, it will not import back into Blackboard.
• Exports are only available to be downloaded for 30 days. After that, you would need to run the export process again to generate a new file.

Importing Course Content

Blackboard Ultra allows instructors to import course materials from a previously exported course package. This is useful for reusing content from past semesters or sharing materials between instructors.

Steps to Import Course Content:

1. Navigate to the Blackboard Ultra course.
2. In the Content tab, to the far right of the Course Content label, locate and click the ellipsis (...) icon.
3. A panel menu will appear. Select Import Content.
   
   
   
   
4. A new panel menu will appear with an option to Import Course Content. Click Import Course Content.
5. Browse to the location of the file you wish to import. Select the file and click Open.
6. The import process may take a few minutes, especially if the course contains many large files. When the package is ready, you will receive an email from the Blackboard Administrator.
7. Refresh your page afterward in order to see the imported content.

Important Considerations:

• It is normal for errors and exceptions to be reported after an import is completed.
• Content that is not compatible with Blackboard Ultra may change format or not import at all. A message will appear explaining which items were impacted by this. For example, "either/or" questions do not exist in Blackboard Ultra, so they would not be included in the import.
• Any imported content will be added to existing course content. Existing course content will not be overwritten.
• Review the imported content after the import is complete to ensure that all links, resources, assignment types, and quiz questions are correct.

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This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!