This article demonstrates a “Do It Yourself” version of the Blackboard to Canvas Course Conversion for faculty who wish to get started working on their Canvas Courses ahead of the University schedule.
To update the Title of your Sandbox Site, please email helpdesk@boisestate.edu with this request. The ability for faculty to make this change themselves is being developed.
Request Canvas Sandbox Site
Instructions: Create a Canvas Sandbox Shell
Fill out the Blackboard Course Restore Request Form
Fill out this Form: Request Access to the Blackboard Archives
Include the Canvas SIS ID of the Canvas Sandbox Shell that you want the course content to be imported into: How to find the Canvas SIS ID
You will receive a notification email from LTS@boisestate.edu when you have access to the Blackboard Archive environment.
Export the Blackboard Course Content
In the Blackboard Archive Environment navigate to the course site you wish to export.
In the Course Management Menu select Packages and Utilities.
Select Export/Archive Course.
Select Export Package Button
Click the Select All button
in the Discussion Board selection, change the radial selection to the second option.
Select Submit at the bottom of the page.
Wait at least 15 minutes. Select the Refresh button.
When the Export File is ready, it will appear. Click on the file and download it to your computer.
Do not open the file.
Import Content into your new Canvas Sandbox Site
Log into Canvas.
From the Dashboard, navigate to the course site you wish to upload the Blackboard Course Content into. This can be your Sandbox or the Live Course. Click on the Course.
You will land on the Home page for the course. On the right hand side of the screen, select Import Existing Content. You will be taken to a new screen.
For Content Type, select “Blackboard 6/7/8/9 export.zip file” from the drop-down menu.
Select the Browse button. A new window will open up - locate the Blackboard Export file that you just downloaded. Select the file. Select Open.
The attached file will now be listed next to the Browse button.
Select All Content.
Select Import.
Wait 20 minutes for the course content to fully upload.
Need Help Getting Started?
Add Boise State Canvas Template to your Canvas Course Site.
The Boise State Canvas Template will provide a framework for a course in Canvas. This includes links to resources and examples of Assignments, Quizzes, Modules, ect. The template is a great resource for users who are new to Canvas or teaching with an LMS.
Clean up and Organize the Canvas Course
Helpful Resource: Learning about Canvas.
Top 4 Gotcha’s in converting a course from Blackboard to Canvas
Rubrics - Canvas Rubrics use points to calculate grades, not percentages. If your Blackboard rubrics contained percentage points, reformat them in Canvas.
Journals - Canvas does not have a Journal tool, manually save Journal Prompts off of Blackboard so that the content is not lost.
Groups - Groups from BB should be deselected at the Canvas import stage.
This is because group names from BB will be imported into Canvas simply as 'Pages' with the same name yet without the functionality of a group.
Manual Columns - are now created through the Assignments area (Select “No Submission” as the submission type).
Go Live!
Request a Canvas Course Site from Middleware 2.0
In Canvas, copy the Sandbox Course into your Live Course, the live course will auto-populate with students and you will be ready to go!
Have a suggestion?
Email us! lts@boisestate.edu