This guide is for instructor users. Looking for a guide for student users? View this article: How to Back Up Blackboard Content as a Student
There are several methods by which you can back up Blackboard content. The method you select will be determined by the type of content you want to save.
To preserve the course content, export the course or copy it into a course shell.
To preserve a semester’s grades, export the grade center.
To preserve work students submitted, download student work.
Request a Course Shell
A course shell is an empty Blackboard course you can use to create a Master Course to manage content for a particular course you teach. These are often referred to as practice, development, or non-integrated courses.
Email CIT to request a course shell for each course you want to preserve. Use a Course Copy to copy content from an existing course. Make changes to the master course and course copy again into your live, Banner-integrated Blackboard course whenever you teach it.
Export
Export files can be imported into empty Blackboard courses or shells. They can also be stored in UA Box or OneDrive for future use or as a backup. You can share these with other instructors for them to upload into Blackboard shells as well. These files create an exact replica of the course (at the time of export) once imported into Blackboard, but without students, student work, or student grades.
An export creates a .ZIP file of course content that can be used to create a new course. This option does not contain any user data, and is not FERPA protected. You can select what content to export during the export process.
How to Export Blackboard Content
Packages are .zip files. Don’t unzip an export package as it won’t import. You may have to change your system/browser preferences to avoid files unzipping automatically.
Download Grades
Course copy and Export do not preserve student data. You can download a copy of the Grade Center from Blackboard as a .CSV or .XLS file by using the Work Offline button in the Full Grade Center. Be advised that this file contains FERPA-protected information, and should be stored securely, such as in UA Box or OneDrive.
How to Download a Copy of the Grade Center from Blackboard
Download Student Work
FERPA Notice: Grade data and student work that is downloaded from Blackboard is FERPA-protected material and should be secured appropriately. Consider using Box to store this content.
Course copy and Export do not preserve student work. You can download examples of student work for future reference by downloading submissions and saving in UA Box or OneDrive.
Download Student Assignments from Blackboard Learn
Download Discussion Board Posts from Blackboard Learn
Download Turnitin Assignments