Importing a Full Course to Canvas from Blackboard

Description

The are multiple methods to move the contents of a Blackboard course or organization to Canvas. This article describes how to move all content in a Blackboard course or organization to Canvas via an export file.

As part of Ohio University's Blackboard Retirement initiative, academic courses taught between Summer 2019 and Summer 2025 in Blackboard will be retained in a secure third-party archiving platform, K16, until June 2028. Please review the purpose of the archive and the process of requesting access to archived course materials when submitting a ticket.


Note: This method often requires significant reorganization of content once the Blackboard course file is uploaded to Canvas. Instead of importing a full course, we strongly encourage you to employ Option 1 on the Moving Course content from Blackboard to Canvas  page. 

Environment

Blackboard and Canvas Learning Management Systems

Table of Contents

Video Demonstrations

For a visual overview of the full course export and import process refer to:

Before you begin

Before migrating your course, learn how to prepare your course for Canvas.

Solution 

 Blackboard Original

  1. Log into blackboard.ohio.edu
  2. On the left Global Navigation menu, select Courses
  3. Select the course that you want to import to Canvas

  • Blackboard Original courses include “Original Course View” in the second line of the title

  1. On the left Course Navigation menu, under Course Management, expand the Control Panel
  2. Select Packages and Utilities
  3. Select Export/Archive Course
  4. On the Export/Archive Course page, select Export Package
  5. Under  File Attachments, determine how you would like to copy links for both Course Files Default Directory and Files Outside of the Course Default Directory

  • We recommend selecting Copy links and include copies of the files in the course default directory

  1. Under Package Size, select Calculate Size to determine the resulting file size to be imported into Canvas

  • Note: There is a maximum course size limit of 2GB (2000MB) in Canvas.

  1. Under Select Course Materials, select the content that you would like to import

  • You can choose Select All to export all content within the course, or select only specific sections

  1. Select Submit at the bottom of the page. 
  2. You will receive a confirmation message on the next screen indicating “Success: This action has been queued. An email will be sent when the process is completed.”

  • You will also receive an email from "bbsupport@ohio.edu" when the file is ready.

  1. Select Refresh to view the newly created export package.
  2. Select the file link to download a copy of the course export file to your computer. 
  3. See Uploading your course file to Canvas below to complete your course migration.

 Blackboard Ultra

  1. Log into blackboard.ohio.edu
  2. In the left Global Navigation menu, select Courses
  3. Select the course that you would like to import to Canvas
  4. On the Course Content header, select the ellipses (three-dot menu) 

Blackboard Ultra curse content page image with three dot menu outlined in red

  1. Select, Export Course Package
  2. Select No if asked to Include student activity data in your export. 
  3. The export process will now begin. The export progress is indicated on the right of the screen

  • You will also receive an email from "bbsupport@ohio.edu" when the file is ready.

  1. Select the file link to download a copy of the course export file to your computer. 
  2. See Uploading your course file to Canvas below to complete your course migration.

 Uploading your course file to Canvas

  1. Log into canvas.ohio.edu
  2. On the green, left Global Navigation Menu pane, select Courses
  3. Select the course where you would like to add the Blackboard course content
  4. On the right side of the page, under the Course Status menu, select Import Existing Content
  5. Next to Content Type, select Blackboard 6,7,8,9, or Ultra export .zip file
  6. Next to Source, select Choose File to browse your computer and locate your saved Blackboard export file
  7. Next to Content, select All content 
  8. Select Import 
  • Note: There is a maximum course size limit of 2GB (2000MB) in Canvas. If your import fails due to this size limit, you will need to re-export content from your Blackboard course in smaller pieces and then import each of those into your Canvas course.  

  1. Under Current Job, the progress bar will indicate that status of your import

  • Canvas will notify you of any issues or errors with the import process. 
  • Click on the link to view the issues in greater detail. 

Outcome: Your course content has now been uploaded to Canvas. You can arrange, create, modify, or delete content as needed. 

Get Help from Canvas

  • Live chat with Canvas support (Faculty) 
  • Get 24-hours/7-days a week Canvas support  
    • Dial the Canvas Support Hotline number located under "Get Help" in the Canvas Global Navigation Menu 
    • Contact OIT at 740-593-1222 for questions related to logging in, test courses/manually created courses, or third-party tools (Panopto, VoiceThread, Inclusive Access, etc.) 

Get Help from OIT

Additional Resources 

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Related Services / Offerings (1)

Canvas Learning Management System (LMS)
Canvas is an online Learning Management System designed to facilitate communication and the sharing of course content between instructors, teaching assistants, students, and guests.