End of Semester Checklist
It is the responsibility of the instructor at the end of each semester to complete the End of Semester Checklist .
1. Archive your course
Archive your course site(s) at the end of each semester. Instructors can create archive files and save in .ZIP format on your hard drive, CD, etc. Archiving a course does not remove it from the system. An archived file is only viewable within Blackboard platform. Three semesters of courses will be maintained on Cleveland's Blackboard server. The Sys Administrator will remove the course.The instructor has the responsibility for archiving course content. Keep this file for one year.
To archive your course:
Click on: Control Panel > Archive Course >Submit, to download the exported course site. The archive will be saved on your PC. If you are using a "course cartridge" that requires access codes, they are usually protected against copying and you may not be able to archive the cartridge sections of your course.Archive vs Export
Archive Course creates a permanent record of a course including all the content and user interactions. The Archive Course tool is not useful for transferring content from one semester course to another.Export Course (this is completed in step # 7) creates a package of the course content that can later be imported into another course and used to teach another course with the same content. It is important to note that, unlike the Archive Course feature, Export Course does not include any user interactions with the course, it only includes the content of the Course.
2. Export your Gradebook
Instructors must export and save a Gradebook for use in a spreadsheet program (Excel). Complete the gradebook export before doing any other maintenance steps. It is recommended that you Export your Gradebook several times during the semester to have a backup. Once students are removed, their grades from the gradebook are removed as well. To export the gradebook:
• Click on: Control Panel >Gradebook > Download Grades> Select the delimiter type to comma > Submit and follow the Instructions.
• After saving the above file, open Excel. Click on: File > Open Locate where the file is saved. Double-click the filename (the file is named gb_export by default.)
• Check your spreadsheet to be sure everything is included and save it before continuing.
3. Clean up the discussion board
• It is the responsibility of the instructor to delete old student posts. It is a violation of a student's confidentiality and copyright to use her/his posts in subsequent class without her/his written permission. You can print and save the posts or archive them. To print and save the forum:
- Go into the Forum you want to save or print
- Select expand all in the upper right
- Select the Show Options tab in the upper-right section of the browser window
- In the options bar choose Select All, or select posts you wish to save or print
- Select Collect
- To print, select file and print
- To save, highlight and then choose edit, and then copy
- Paste into Word and save
• To remove posts (this is permanent!)
- Enter the forum.
- Click on >Expand >Show Options >Select All >Remove
4. Make the link to quizzes unavailable so new students will not have access to them before needed.
• Click > Control Panel > Go to the course area you selected to Add Test, (example: Course Documents). For each assessment that is available, click >Modify>Modify the Test Options>Make the link available>No.
5. Remove old Announcements, students from Roster and files from the Dropbox.
6. Make your course Unavailable - except if you have an incomplete(s). This will also remove past semester courses from appearing on the students' list. Click on: Control Panel > Course Settings > Course Availability: No
7. Complete Course Export. This is the file you will need to import into your course for the next semester if you plan to use the material again.