Introduction:
Transitioning to Brightspace is an exciting opportunity to enhance your course content, refine activities, and address accessibility requirements. Before migrating your resources and activities from Blackboard to Brightspace, take the time to ensure your course materials are accessible. Use the Blackboard Ally Report to review and improve your content.
Faculty will have access to Blackboard until the end of Summer 2025, with the full transition to Brightspace occurring in Summer I 2025.
Key Points:
Course Migration Options:
Option 1 - Build from scratch
Start fresh and design your course directly in Brightspace.
Using Course Templates
Save time by using pre-built course templates:
Steps to Build a Course from Scratch
To help you build your course from scratch, we recommend using the Brightspace Course Builder interface, which is available in all courses. Here’s how to get started:
- Navigate to the desired Brightspace course.
- From the Navbar, click on Course Admin.
- Under the ‘Site Resources’ heading, click on Course Builder.
In the Course Builder interface, use the interface to:
- Build your course outline with placeholders.
- Add content and explore tools.
Alternatively, you can start adding modules and uploading files directly from your Brightspace main page:
- From your Navbar, click on Content.
- Begin adding Modules and uploading files to your course.
This should make the process of building your course more manageable and organized. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!
Option 2 - Do it yourself!
Migrate key elements of your Blackboard course to Brightspace.
Important Notes:
- Journals and Wikis are unavailable in Brightspace.
- Question sets and random group quiz questions will not be linked.
Steps to Create a Blackboard Backup File:
- Log in to Blackboard and go to your course.
- From the course menu, go to Course Management > Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course > Export Package.
- Select options:
- Select All (except Contacts and Announcements).
- For forums, choose Include only the forums, with no starter posts.
- Click Submit to download the backup file.
Steps to Import the File into Brightspace:
- Log in to Brightspace and go to your course.
- Navigate to Navbar > Course Admin > Import/Export/Copy Components > Import Components.
- Upload the Blackboard backup file and select Import All Components.
The import process may take several minutes, depending on the size of your backup file.
Clean-Up Steps:
- Update dates for assignments, quizzes, and other activities.
- Verify and adjust activities/resources to ensure compatibility with Brightspace.
Option 3 - Submit a Course Migration Request
If you prefer assistance, complete the Brightspace Course Request Form(coming soon) and specify the courses to copy from. Our team will notify you when your course is ready for review.
Option 4 - Transfer file only
If your Blackboard course consists mainly of file resources, follow these steps:
- Log in to Blackboard and go to your course.
- Navigate to Course Management > Content Collection > Course CRN.
- Select files:
- Click Show All at the bottom of the window.
- Check individual files or Select All.
- Download the package as a zip file.
Import Files into Brightspace:
- Go to Brightspace and navigate to your course.
- Go to Navbar > Course Admin > Manage Files and click Upload to add your zip file.
- Once uploaded, click the dropdown arrow next to the zip file and select Unzip.
- Use the Course Builder to organize uploaded files into modules:
- Go to Navbar > Course Admin > Course Builder.
- Create modules and place your files accordingly.
FAQ Section:
- • Will student interactions be imported into Brightspace?
No, only course content can be imported into Brightspace.
- • Will all courses be migrated from Blackboard to Brightspace?
No, migrations will be done upon request and based on priority, except for online courses that have completed the Blueprinting process.
Additional Resources:
Explore resources and templates on the Brightspace Faculty Trainings and Templates pages. In addition, visit the following resources:
Need Help?
For assistance with course migration or Brightspace tools, contact the COLTT Help Desk at 956-665-5347 or 956-882-6792.