Export or Archive Blackboard Original Courses
Contents
The following support article provides information for instructors on exporting or archiving their course content from Blackboard as a packaged zip file that can be saved to a personal or work device for future reference.
Why Archive or Export A Course?
- Saves a copy of the course for your records and reference as an instructor
- Ensures that a backup version of the course exists for instructor use after the course reaches its three-year expiration date and is removed from Blackboard
- Retains course information that can be uploaded into future Blackboard courses with the import function
- Allows for sharing of course content packages between users
NOTE: Do NOT unzip an export package or delete files from the package once it has been downloaded to your device, as this will cause errors when importing the package.
Archive or Export
While both the archive and export functions in Blackboard both create a zip file of your course content, only the archive function allows all content including user information like discussion posts/replies and grades to be recorded. Before choosing either archive or export, ask yourself why you are creating the backed-up version of the course.
Will you use the file for any form of reporting requiring user information in the future? Select Archive.
Will you only be using the file to upload course content into a new shell without any previous user data? Select Export.
Video Walkthrough – Export or Archive a Course
This recording from Academic Technology at CSU Pueblo describes the process of exporting or archiving a course in the Blackboard Original Course View.
Export or Archive a Blackboard Course – Educational Technology, 2024
Find the Export/Archive Option
The options to export or archive a course are located in the same area within a Blackboard Original Course. In the Course Management (1) panel, navigate to Packages and Utilities (2) and select the option for Export/Archive Course (3).
![A screenshot of the Course Management section of a Blackboard Original course with blue arrows pointing to the Course Management, Packages and Utilities, and Export/Archive Course options.](https://attachment.freshservice.com/inline/attachment?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6MjMwMTM1MjQwMTAsImRvbWFpbiI6ImNzdXN5c3RlbS5mcmVzaHNlcnZpY2UuY29tIiwidHlwZSI6MX0.I7mxCOqghnG9aExSxq745gZgJCIEIHI090Gt_LzRHKw)
From here, you can select the option for either Export Package or Archive Course.
![A screenshot of the Export/Archive Course page in a Blackboard Original course with blue arrows pointing to the Export Package and Archive Course options.](https://attachment.freshservice.com/inline/attachment?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6MjMwMTM1MjQwMTQsImRvbWFpbiI6ImNzdXN5c3RlbS5mcmVzaHNlcnZpY2UuY29tIiwidHlwZSI6MX0.jUbZstZwb7QcUYwVA3IUmAFJgVIHu7xsP2QRSQhsBr8)
Export a Course
To create a zip file package of the course to be saved to a personal or work device that does not have any user interactions or grades, click the Export Package option.
![A screenshot of the Export/Archive Course page in a Blackboard Original course with a blue arrow pointing to the Export Package Option.](https://attachment.freshservice.com/inline/attachment?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6MjMwMTM1MjQwMDYsImRvbWFpbiI6ImNzdXN5c3RlbS5mcmVzaHNlcnZpY2UuY29tIiwidHlwZSI6MX0.WWb0PNmOE-9Ea_Itxy5aKZWM23zjNhx8hcm-cmSYVe4)
Leave the options in the File Attachments section on the default selections.
In the unlikely event that you receive an error message regarding the size of your download exceeding the allowed package size limit, please submit a ticket to the Help Desk.
In the Select Course Materials section, select the course content you want to save to your export package by clicking the check boxes next to each item or category of items. You may also choose to Select All options when creating your course copy so you know that you have a copy of all the content in your course.
REMEMBER: the EXPORT function does not retain any user data such as grades, submitted assignments, attendance, or other user interactions. To retain an exact record of the course, use the ARCHIVE function instead.
After clicking submit, you will receive a purple Success! bar at the top of the screen. The process of generating the package is usually fairly quick. If you refresh the course page, the package should display for you almost immediately in the Packages Created Manually with a file name that starts with ExportFile followed by the course name and the date and time the package was created.
![A screenshot of the Export/Archive Course page in a Blackboard Original course with a blue arrow pointing to the file name of the created export zip package for the course.](https://attachment.freshservice.com/inline/attachment?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6MjMwMTM1MjQwMTUsImRvbWFpbiI6ImNzdXN5c3RlbS5mcmVzaHNlcnZpY2UuY29tIiwidHlwZSI6MX0.FTjwqH4ySpvMFmedxE5Z1AqLmfUs4ALBJpb83OizXnA)
From here, clicking the package link will download the zip file from your browser to your device where you can move it to your preferred storage location.
REMEMBER: Do NOT unzip an export package or delete files from the package once it has been downloaded to your device, as this will cause errors when importing the package.
Archive a Course
To create a zip file package of the course to be saved to a personal or work device that operates as an exact record of the course complete with student information and grades, click the Archive Course option.
![A screenshot of the Export/Archive Course page in a Blackboard Original course with a blue arrow pointing to the Archive Course Option.](https://attachment.freshservice.com/inline/attachment?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6MjMwMTM1MjQwMDksImRvbWFpbiI6ImNzdXN5c3RlbS5mcmVzaHNlcnZpY2UuY29tIiwidHlwZSI6MX0.ttWPGt66K7I6O9xzBheD3NTf7Wftr_EbIpKGKt_FwPU)
From here, you have the option to include or exclude the Grade Center History in your archived course package. To include this information, click the Include Grade Center History checkbox.
Leave the File Attachments settings on their default selections and click Submit.
After clicking submit, you will receive a purple Success! bar at the top of the screen. The process of generating the package is usually fairly quick. If you refresh the course page, the package should display for you almost immediately in the Packages Created Manually with a file name that starts with ArchiveExFile followed by the course name and the date and time the package was created.
![A screenshot of the Export/Archive Course page in a Blackboard Original course with a blue arrow pointing to the file name of the created archive zip package for the course.](https://attachment.freshservice.com/inline/attachment?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpZCI6MjMwMTM1MjQwMTMsImRvbWFpbiI6ImNzdXN5c3RlbS5mcmVzaHNlcnZpY2UuY29tIiwidHlwZSI6MX0.CbPZchjvL7-_6JlyILUWV52f9V6oJkm6yjMcVki-IL8)
From here, clicking the package link will download the zip file from your browser to your device where you can move it to your preferred storage location.
REMEMBER: Do NOT unzip an export package or delete files from the package once it has been downloaded to your device, as this will cause errors when importing the package.
Helpful Links
Blackboard Support – Export and Archive Courses: https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Original/Course_Content/Reuse_Content/Export_and_Archive_Courses
Video Tutorial – Export or Archive a Blackboard Course: https://youtu.be/_kGq5UQpB84