When & how to copy content into the course template
A new blank course shell is created using the institutional template. You can select and copy, or re-create the content you need into it.
Companion guides:
- Blackboard Course Rollover instructions (Step by step).
- How to use the Copy Content tool.
- Advice for copying specific types of content.
Do not copy an entire course, this can lead to more work and causes additional work for Support Centre colleagues to remove and correct content.
Copy advice
- Click on a Learning Module or Folder to open it and find the purple plus sign needed to copy content inside it.
- In some cases it may be easier to re-upload or re-create content that is being revised or updated.
- Update any dates, settings or release conditions on copied content.
- Copied content is set to ‘Hidden from students’ by default. Use Batch Edit to bulk edit visibility.
- Unintentially copied content content can be safely deleted. Use Batch Edit to bulk delete.
Screencast Revised Rollover – How to approach copying & re-creating content (11 mins).
Do’s & Don’ts
- Do not copy:
- Centrally authored content that is automatically part of the template (e.g. General Assignment Information & Support).
- Assignment submission points (Turnitin, Blackboard & Gradescope). These are setup new each time.
- The entire ‘Module Information’, ‘Assessment’, ‘Module Evaluation‘ Learning Modules. Instead copy specific items / folders inside them, as appropriate.
- You can copy:
- Blackboard Tests. If the Test uses a Question Bank (Pool) this is automatically copied with it.
- The entire ‘Learning Materials‘ Learning Module, if appropriate, and then edit/delete any content.
- Please read the additional copy advice for inserted Online Reading List and YuJa Video links inside content.
Copying items in the course template
Course Image Banner
- You can copy the banner image or pick a new one each year.
- Top Tip: Copy the course banner image after you’ve copied everything else to help distinguish between the courses.
Module Information
- Do not copy the entire ‘Module Information’ Learning Module.
- Copy items within it, where applicable.
- Any additional content you’ve added, can be copied or re-uploaded, as required.
| Teaching Team | Copy (Optional) | Copy this from the previous course if those teaching the course are the same. Edit the copied Document to add or remove colleagues details. Delete the existing placeholder. |
| Module Roadmap | Do not copy | Edit the existing placeholder and use ‘Replace’ to upload an updated file. |
| Module Handbook / Schedule | Do not copy | Edit the placeholder and use ‘Replace’ to upload an updated file. |
| Module Description | Do not copy | Centrally authored item. The Module Description is automatically linked to the course. |
Assessment
- Do not copy the entire ‘Assessment’ Learning Module.
- Only copy specific items, where applicable.
- Do not copy Assignment submission points (Blackboard, Turnitin & Gradescope). These are created new each year by the Support Centre.
- Blackboard Tests can be copied with any associated Question Banks.
- Blackboard Rubrics can be copied ready to attach to newly created Blackboard Assignments.
| Study Advice & Library – Assessment Guides | Do not copy | Contains centrally authored content as part of the template. |
| General Assignment Information & Support | Do not copy | Contains centrally authored content as part of the template. |
| Assignment Folders | Do not copy | Do not copy Assignment submission points (Blackboard, Turnitin & Gradescope). These are created new each year. Any additional resources you’ve added in this folder can be copied seperately, if appropriate. |
| Assignment Briefs | Do not copy | This content usually needs to be updated. Edit the placeholder and use ‘Replace’ to upload an updated file. |
| General Exam Information & Support | Do not copy | Contains centrally authored content as part of the template. |
| Digital Exam Folder | Do not copy | Exams are created new each year. |
| Past Exam Papers | Copy (Optional) | You can choose to copy this from the previous course and delete the existing placeholder in the template. |
| Exam Feedback | Do not copy | This is created new each year using the existing placeholder in the template. |
Learning Materials
- You can choose what to copy, upload or re-create depending on your requirements.
- You can copy the entire ‘Learning Materials’ Learning Module or several Folders all at once and then edit or delete content afterwards.
| Week folders (or other folders) | Copy (As required) | Copy these as needed. All items inside them are copied. Check how different types of content copies. |
| Online Reading List & YuJa Video links | Copy (Optional) | Essential copy guidance for these third-party tools. |
Online Reading List
- Do not copy this item.
- This resource link is already part of the template and automatically connects to the most recent Reading List at the end of June.
Video (YuJa channel)
- Do not copy this item.
- This channel link is already part of the template. Click the link in the new course to create the YuJa channel for your module and to be able to publish your videos to it.
Module Evaluation
- Do not copy the ‘Module Evaluation’ Learning Module.
| How to complete the end-of-module evaluation | Do not copy | Centrally authored content already in the template. |
| Mid-module evaluation | Do not copy | This content is likely to be new each year and has an existing placeholder in the template. |
Guide last updated on April 29, 2026