Guide to Maintaining Blackboard 7 Course Sites

Last updated April 12, 2007

ON THIS PAGE:

• Periodic Recommendations
  • Download the Gradebook
  • Create an Archive and/or Export of the Course Site
• Course Site Life Cycle
• Additional Information and Resources

Periodic Recommendations

Throughout the semester, faculty should periodically download the gradebook and create archived and/or exported copies of course sites.  A good time to do this is after scores have been recorded for a major quiz or after the submission of a major essay or project, etc.  Although the Office of Information Technology performs a nightly backup of the entire Blackboard system, this backup is only used in the event of a total system failure. It cannot be used to restore an individual course hence the importance of having an archived copy of your course.

Downloading the Gradebook

1. Go to Control Panel -> Gradebook
2. Click "Download Grades."
3. Choose "Tab" as the delimiter.
4. Click "Download."
5. Name and save the file to an external source.
6. The delimited file can be opened in programs such as Excel and SPSS.

Creating an Archive of the course site - The Archive Course feature creates a historical record, that can be Restored if data needs to be retrieved. Archives are compressed in a .zip format that can be saved to an external source. An Archive creates a permanent record of a course including all the content and user interactions.

1. Go to Control Panel -> Archive Course
2. Click "Archive."
3. Click "Submit."  You will receive an email when the Archive process is complete.
4. To download the Archive of the course to an external source (local drive, CD, flash drive, etc.) go the Control Panel -> Archive Course
5. Click "Archive."
6. Click the appropriate file name.
7. Name and save the .zip file to an external source.
8. Send an email to blackboard@boisestate.edu if you need the .zip file restored to the Blackboard server.

Creating an Export of the course site - The Export Course feature creates a package of the course content that can later be imported and used to teach another course with the same content. It is important to note that, unlike the Archive Course feature, Export Course does not include any user interactions with the course—it only includes the content and the tools. Export packages are downloaded as compressed zip files and are imported in the same format.

1. Go to Control Panel -> Export Course
2. Click "Export."
3. Choose the areas that are to be a part of the Export.
4. Click "Submit."  You will receive an email when the Export process is complete.
5. To download the Export of the course to an external source (local drive, CD, flash drive, etc.) go the Control Panel -> Export Course
6. Click "Export."
7. Click the appropriate file name.
8. Name and save the zip file to an external source.
9. To Import the contents of this file, go to the Control Panel of the desired course -> Import Package.

Course Site Life Cycle

• Blackboard course sites are requested by faculty each semester.
• Once created, course sites are made available to students by the individual faculty.
• Course sites will be made unavailable to students 30 days after the end of the current semester.
• Course sites will be archived and disabled 18 months after the end of the semester in which it was used.
• Course sites will be removed from the system 18 to 24 months after the end of the semester in which it was used.

Additional Information & Resources

Boise State University

Blackboard Login: http://blackboard.boisestate.edu

Instructor Info & Request Forms: http://itc.boisestate.edu/BbSupport

 

Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Home: http://www.blackboard.com

Blackboard Assistance at Boise State email:  blackboard@boisestate.edu    phone:  (208) 426-2583 (8-5 Mon-Fri)  office:  Education 420