Manually Integrating Blackboard Content in Canvas

Manual content import allows you to copy course content from Blackboard into Canvas. This option is best for experienced instructors who want full control over their course content. Instructors may need to consider using manual content import for courses not included in the automatic process.

Content imported into Canvas is NOT a 1:1 replication of your course. Cleanup is required and some items may need to be  recreated or replaced.

1. Inventory assessment tools you will need to replace in Canvas: Look throughout your course for any blogs, glossaries, journals, or wikis along with any point values. These assessment tools do not exist in Canvas and will need to be replaced.

2. Take note of any groups or group sets in your Blackboard shell: In a manual content export, groups and group sets do not get copied to Canvas. You will need to recreate your groups and reapply them to assignments in Canvas.

3. Back up any Word or PDF rubrics: Save copies of any rubrics used in the course as Word documents or PDF files, and note which assignments use them. Rubrics will generally transfer, but will require some editing before they can be usable.

4. Delete unused Categories in Full Grade Center: In the Full Grade Center, use Manage —> Categories to delete any unused categories.

5. Move video and audio files hosted in Blackboard to SharePoint: 

   • Look in the Content Collection (Content Collection –> expand, and click on the course ID number at the top).

   • Check for any video or audio files hosted directly within your Blakcboard course space and note where they are used in your course.

   • Save the files and upload them to the MS SharePoint cloud.

   • Delete those audio and video files from the Content Collection before exporting your course.

After importing content into Canvas, you will be able to add weblinks to your audio and video files from the MS SharePoint cloud into your course materials.

6. Clean up content: Remove any unneeded or duplication materials from Content Collection, and all content areas and content folders. How to Delete (Unneeded) Files in Blackboard Content Collection

7. Remove nested folder structure:
   NOTE: Sub-folders do not migrate to Canvas.

If your course contains nested levels of content areas or folders, you should consolidate materials where possible to omit nested levels before exporting your content. This will reduce the chance that those materials are not copied and the time you would spend reorganizing content in Canvas.

If you need content from Blackboard that is not currently in Canvas, you can manually export your course content from Blackboard and then import it into a Canvas course shell. We recommend requesting a Canvas development space for importing your course content. You will be able to copy to a registrar-affiliated space later.

On Blakboard:

1. Log into Blackboard and go into your Control Panel > Packages and Utilities > Export/Archive Course.

2. Click on the Export Package tab.

3. Under Select Course Materials, select the items you would like to move to Canvas by selecting the checkmarks next to each type of content OR select Select All. Click Submit at the bottom of the page to copy all course content.

4. When the export file appears (blue link), click the chevron arrow and choose Open from the dropdown list to save this export file to your computer. Note the name of your file. This begins an export download to your computer. Do not unzip this file.  

On Canvas:

1. Log into Canvas and navigate to the course in which you would like to import Content Areas.

2. Click on Import Existing Content in the sidebar.

3. Select the Blackboard 6/7/8/9/Ultra export .zip file option from the Content Type drop-down menu.

4. Click the Choose File/Browse button.

5. Locate the file on your computer and click the Open button.

6. Choose whether you want All Content or if you want to Select Specific Content.

7. If selecting specific content, place a check mark in the box next to Adjust events and due dates and select the Remove dates option. Click the Import button.

8. If selecting specific content:

   1. Click the Select Content button which appears next to the line that begins with Blackboard Learn.

   2. Place check marks in the boxes next to the specific content you want to import [1]. (Clicking the arrow at the far left of any content type will open a list of specific contents of that type [2]. You can check those boxes separately if you do not want all contents of those types [3].)

   3. Click the Select Content button.

If you need access to a course that is not in Blackboard (because it’s older than 2 years) use the Course Requets System to submit an auto-course request.

Before following the steps below, log in at https://canvas.uh.edu/ and select your desired course. 

• Course settings and navigation links

Check the Course Details tab

1. Add a course card image (if desired).

2. Scroll to the bottom of the “Course Details” tab.

3. Open “more options”.

4. Here you can set the number of announcements shown on the home page and change settings if you use discussions in your course.

Check the Navigation tab

1. In the “Navigation” tab you can show, hide, and reorder the left-side navigation links that appear in your course.

2. We suggest starting with Syllabus, Announcements, Modules, People, Grades, and Discussions (if applicable).

Set or change your course home page

1. To set a custom home page, you must first create and publish a new page.

2. Then, you can set it as the home page in your course.
   
   

• Reorder or remove unnecessary modules

Content areas and folders are going to become modules in Canvas, you can reorden them.

• Move or copy your syllabus content

You have three options to add your syllabus:

1. (Recommended) Use the Canvas Syllabus tool

2. Create a module titled “Syllabus”

3. Upload your syllabus as a file

REMINDER: Be sure to check the text in your syllabus and other pages to replace any text references to “Blackboard”.

• Recreate groups or group sets

As noted above, groups and group sets do not copy into Canvas. You will need to recreate any missing groups and/or group sets in your course and reconnect them to assignments or discussions.

• Check your assignments

1. Visit the Assignments area to check due dates and point totals for all assignments.

2. You can update due dates and availability dates for multiple assignments at one time.

3. Recreate Turnitin assignments. They do not transfer and will need to be recreated in Canvas.

Consider grouping assignments by category or type. This can help greatly improve your grading options and overall course maintenance experience.

• Organize, review, and set up discussion forum settings

NOTE: Group discussion forums may not have been imported. If this is the case, you will need to create a new discussion topic, copy/paste instructions, and connect the groups.

Consider pinning some discussions to standardize the order on the Discussion Index page.

• Review your quizzes and surveys

NOTE: Quizzes from the automatic content import are created as Classic Quizzes. Please take this opportunity to carefully review all of your quiz content, including point values, question groups/pools, and quiz settings.

• Recreate quiz instructions, display dates, feedback and test results/feedback. They do not transfer well.

• The following question types are not supported in Classic Quiz: Hotspot, Quiz Bowl, and File Response.

  • You can use the File Upload question type in Canvas to recreate File Response questions.

• Please check any quizzes that use images or equations.

• Canvas does not allow automatic lettering or numbering of answer options.

  • If you plan to format answers in this manner, you will need to manually add the letter or number to the option (e.g., instead of “apple”, you will need to type “C. apple”).

• You cannot randomize answer options for individual questions in a Classic Quiz.

• Imported quizzes are unpublished by default. Switch them to published once you have finished reviewing.

• Review your rubrics and confirm all point values and descriptions have correctly transferred

NOTE: Descriptions in the rubric will be copied, but point values or percentages are not carried over.

• • • We recommend creating rubrics on the Rubrics Index page, rather than from within the assignment itself. Doing so will prevent accidental loss of data if the rubric is later deleted from the assignment.

    • Visit the following Canvas guides for instructions on how to add rubrics to assignments, graded discussions, and quizzes.

    • If rubrics are used for more than one assignment, you will not be able to edit the rubric until you remove it from other associated assessments.

• Lock down files that should only be visible by instructors and teaching assistants

By default, course files are visible and accessible to ALL users. Any content you do not want students to access should be moved into a locked folder.

• Consider adding folders for improved organization.

• Remove duplicate files and older files that are no longer used.

• Review any date restrictions

  • • Review date restrictions on modules if this is important for your course. In Canvas, modules can be locked until a certain date and time.

    • Individual Pages cannot be date restricted unless you move the page into a locked module.

• • For information on how to organize your Canvas course effectively, visit our Organizing Your Canvas Course and Canvas Transition FAQ's pages.

  • Visit the Canvas Instructor Guide for guides and answers to specific tools and features in Canvas.

• • View more Canvas tutorials at the Instruction@UH Knowledgebase. 

• • Visit the NSM-IT Canvas Site for tips and guides.

Need help with your manual migration? We recommend you attend one of the upcoming training sessions, review Canvas documentation, or reach out to our support team for assistance.