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Semester Transitions
Course Export/Archive
It's a good idea to make a backup of the content in your Online@UT course sites at any point in the semester, but as with the gradebook, you should always do it when the semester ends. There are two options for backing up a course site: export and archive. Which of these options you use will depend on how much information you want to retain from the course site.
Exporting a course copies only the content in the site, meaning that any assignments you posted, class notes, presentations, etc., would be kept, but not individual student data. This is a good option if you simply want to make sure you can recreate a course structure in the future.
Archiving a course copies everything in the site, including user data. Keeping an archive would allow you to revisit discussion board postings, messages to and from students, test results, etc.
You can import an exported course into a new course site, by using the “Import Package” option in the new course site’s Control Panel. If you wish to restore the information from an archive to a course site, you will need to contact the Innovative Technology Center for assistance. However, you may browse the information contained in the archive using a free tool from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, named bFree.
Keep in mind that some information in exported gradebooks and course sites is protected by Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) and should be stored accordingly.
Quick Steps
To export or archive a course site:
- Go to the course site Control Panel and click the Export Course or Archive Course link.
- From the resulting screen, select either Export or Archive.
- If you have chosen to export the course, on the next screen, select the course materials you want to copy and press Submit. If you have chosen to archive the course, simply press Submit.
- You will be advised that the process has been queued; click OK to return to the Archive/Export manager.
- After a few minutes, refresh your web browser. When the file has been created, you will see a link. Right-click on that link (ctrl+click on a Mac) and select Save Target As or Save Linked File As option.
- Change the file name to something descriptive, and save the file to your computer.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Go to the course site’s Control Panel and click the Export Course or Archive Course link.
Step 2. From the resulting screen, select either Export or Archive.
Step 3. If you have chosen to export the course, on the next screen, select the course materials you want to copy and press Submit. If you have chosen to archive the course, simply press Submit.
Step 4. You will be advised that the process has been queued; click OK to return to the Archive/Export manager.
Step 5. After a few minutes, refresh your web browser. When the file has been created, you will see a link. Right-click on that link (ctrl+click on a Mac) and select Save Target As or Save Linked File As option.
Step 6. Change the file name to something descriptive, and save the file to your computer.
