Backup & Reset Course (End of Semester)

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Overview

At the end of each semester it's a good idea to download your course grade book (if used), and download a backup of all materials and course activity. Then reset the course to clear out course activity (resetting does not remove course content, just student activity). Resetting benefits your students as well, since they typically don't want to see old class in their course list.

STEP 1 Backup the Blackboard Grade Book (Skip if you didn't use the Grade Book)
STEP 2 Reset your course (A backup is generated automatically)
STEP 3 Download your backup

Backups can not be opened locally on your computer. They must be restored to a Blackboard CE server. Contact cti@uidaho.edu if you need to have a course restored from a backup. This is one of the reasons why it's a good idea to download your Grade Book separately. If you would like to download your Files in the Manage Files area of your course, see the File Manager Tutorial.

Grade Challenges: In accordance with Records Management policies, Blackboard course backups are retained by CTI for one year to facilitate grade challenges and incompletes. Designers and instructors cannot restore their own courses. Contact cti@uidaho.edu to have courses restored.

End of the Semester Procedure

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1. Backup Grade Book

If you used the Blackboard Grade Book tool it's a good idea to keep a record of the grades locally on your computer. These instructions guide you in downloading a text file of your Grade Book which you may open in Microsoft Excel for future reference.

  • Under the Teach Tab, click on Grade Book.
  • Click on Export to Spreadsheet.
  • Set Members to Export: All Members
  • Set Export Format: Comma-Delimited
  • Press Export
  • Save the file to your hard drive

Windows XP Users: You may initially be given a warning at the top of the browser. It is safe to allow the download.

2. Backup & Reset Course

A complete course backup is generated automatically when you reset your course.

Course Restore: Instructors cannot restore their own backups. Please contact the CTI to have us restore your backup to a Blackboard server.

To Reset your course:

  • Under the Teach tab, click on Manage Course
  • Click on Reset
  • To reset the course, click Continue
  • You will be returned to the My UI page
     
    NOTE:     Resetting a course may take from a few seconds to an hour or so. The course will be unavailable for users in until the reset is complete.
     
  • When the Reset is complete you'll be able to click the Refresh Page button on your Web browser to access the course again.
RESET Clears:
  • Student Submissions
  • Grade Book Records
    Columns/Calculations are retained
  • Chat, Discussion, & Mail Messages
    Discussion Topics are retained
  • Custom Calendar Entries
  • Course Registration Number
  • Student Groups & Presentations
  • Page Tracking Records

 

  

 
3. Download Course Backup

It's a good idea to keep a local copy of your course so that if there are grade challenges, or other unforeseen circumstances in the future, we can restore your course.

Note: Backups can not be opened locally on your computer. They must be restored to a Blackboard CE server. Contact cti@uidaho.edu if you need to have a course restored from a backup. This is one of the reasons why it's a good idea to download your Grade Book separately. If you would like to download your Files in the Manage Files area of your course, see the File Manager Tutorial.

  • Under the Build Tab, click on Manage Course
  • Click on Backup
  • Click on the ActionLinks ActionLinks icon, and select Save as File
  • Click OK

  • Under the Build tab, go to the File Manager Tool
  • Click on the ActionLinks ActionLinks icon icon next to the backup file and select Download

  • Restoring Course Backups: In accordance with Records Management policies, Blackboard course backups are retained by CTI for one year to facilitate grade challenges and incompletes. Contact cti@uidaho.edu to have courses restored. Designers and instructors cannot restore their own courses.
     

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