Copy an Entire Course

Instructors can copy content from any course where they have instructor access. We recommend making updates in a development course shell (see below) and then copying the updated content into your live course sections when they are available.

Steps to Copy a Course

1. Open the empty course where you want the content copied.
2. On the Content page, select the three-dot menu (next to the magnifying glass).
3. Choose Copy Items.
4. Locate the course you want to copy and check the box next to the course name.
5. Select Start Copy.

The selected course content will be copied into your current course. Learn more about how to Copy Content in Blackboard.

Copy Individual Course Items

Instructors can copy individual items—such as assignments, files, or lecture content—from any course where they have Instructor access. Items copied into a course are hidden by default, so students will not see them until you make them visible.

Steps to Copy Individual Items

1. Go to the location in your course where you want the item to appear and select the plus (+) sign.
2. Choose Copy Content.
3. Locate the course that contains the item(s) you want to copy.
4. Click the course name to view its contents (do not check the box next to the course name).
5. Check the box next to the content item(s) you want to copy.
6. Select Start Copy.

The selected items will appear in the location where you added them. Be sure to adjust visibility settings when you are ready for students to access the content. Learn more about how to Copy Items in Blackboard.

Request a Course Copy

In some cases, instructors or administrators need a course copied but do not have Instructor access to one or both courses. Common examples include copying a master course into an instructor’s section or reassigning a course to a different instructor.

If you do not have the necessary access, email the Design Center at onlinelearning.edu to request a course copy.

Information Required

To process your request, please include the following information in your email:

• Copy from: Course name, including the section and semester, or course ID
• Copy to: Course name, including the section and semester, or course ID
• Written consent of the owner of the course or the department chair. (They can be copied in the email request.)

Providing complete information helps ensure your request is completed accurately and without delay.

About Development Shells

A development shell (or sandbox) is a private Blackboard course used to build or revise content without affecting a live class. Development shells do not include enrolled students, and they are not archived like live courses that have ended. When your content is ready, you can copy it into your live course.

Why Use a Development Shell?

We recommend development shells because they allow you to:

• Build and revise course content without disrupting students
• Test tools, links, and settings before a course goes live
• Design courses intentionally aligned with the H.O.M.E. Framework
• Create content and update it to reuse across sections or future terms

Requesting a Development Shell

If you need a development shell created, email the Design Center at onlinelearning@marshall.edu with the course name and number.