Good afternoon,
We are exploring the possibility of a new Bb template for our teachers next year. Specifically, we want to include six week grading periods in the Grade Center. This is possible using the course creation wizard when creating courses individually.
Currently, we batch create classes using a .csv so that we can create many courses at one time. Is there a way to batch create classes and include a template?
I appreciate any feedback.
Thank you,
Alysa
The batch create tool is pretty limited in functionality and it is not possible to create courses from templates with it. But have no fear, that's what SIS Integrations are for. SIS can do everything the batch create tool can do plus tons more, including creating a batch of courses from template(s). Here's a quick guide on how to do just that:
1. Create a new integration:
SIS's primary function is to take data from a student information system and load it into Blackboard, but that's not what we're going to use it for. We're just going to manually upload feed files (very similar to the csv files you already have) to make it batch create your courses.
Navigate to System Admin > Data Integration > Student Information System Integrations and select Create Integration > Snapshot Flat File
Give the integration a name, set it to comma delimited (unless you want to change your feed to pipes), status to "active", log verbosity to "All Diagnostic" (so we can see the success messages in the logs), and data source to "use the same": "SYSTEM" (the batch tool puts everything in SYSTEM DSK so I assume you want SIS to do the same), then submit the page.
2. Create a feed file:
SIS feeds need to be formatted a bit different than the ones used by the batch tool. SIS feeds require headers for each column, but allows them in any order where as the batch tool feeds had no headers but everything was in a strict order. For example here's what the same two courses would look like in a feed for each:
batch feed:
idA,nameA,descriptionA
idB,nameB,descriptionB
SIS feed:
EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY,COURSE_ID,COURSE_NAME,DESCRIPTION
idA,idA,nameA,descriptionA
idB,idB,nameB,descriptionB
Note that SIS also requires an external course key, which by default is the same as the course ID. For a full list of columns that SIS supports see the help page here. But back to your question, how do you make them copy from templates, the answer is the TEMPLATE_COURSE_KEY column.
EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY,COURSE_ID,COURSE_NAME,DESCRIPTION,TEMPLATE_COURSE_KEY
idA,idA,nameA,descriptionA,templateA
idB,idB,nameB,descriptionB,templateB
Now that feed will create course "idA" as a copy of "templateA" and course "idB" as a copy of "templateB". If you leave the column empty for some courses, they will be created as standard new course shells. If course "idA" already exists when you run this feed through SIS, it will not copy templateA into it again (unless you mess with the advanced config).
3. Upload the feed to the integration
Now you have a feed file and an integration. The last step is to upload the feed using the "Upload Feed File" option from the dropdown of the integration you created. Select "Course" as the data type and "Store" as the operation. After uploading the feed it should process right away. You check the progress of it by choosing "View log" from the dropdown and you should see some messages indicating the courses are being created or errors saying why it failed.
That's the short version of how to use SIS to make courses as copies of templates. SIS has a ton of other options and features but this isn't the place to into any more detail.
Thank you, Nathan! I appreciate your very detailed response.
Hello,
I have recorded a demo for what Nathan McKean has detailed. It has the audio in spanish, but I think you can follow the process despite the language:
https://1428242.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Demo+creacion+batch+de+cursos+con+SIS/1_9jn43emg
Hope this helps.
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Behind the Blackboard
Blackboard.com
The batch create tool is pretty limited in functionality and it is not possible to create courses from templates with it. But have no fear, that's what SIS Integrations are for. SIS can do everything the batch create tool can do plus tons more, including creating a batch of courses from template(s). Here's a quick guide on how to do just that:
1. Create a new integration:
SIS's primary function is to take data from a student information system and load it into Blackboard, but that's not what we're going to use it for. We're just going to manually upload feed files (very similar to the csv files you already have) to make it batch create your courses.
Navigate to System Admin > Data Integration > Student Information System Integrations and select Create Integration > Snapshot Flat File
Give the integration a name, set it to comma delimited (unless you want to change your feed to pipes), status to "active", log verbosity to "All Diagnostic" (so we can see the success messages in the logs), and data source to "use the same": "SYSTEM" (the batch tool puts everything in SYSTEM DSK so I assume you want SIS to do the same), then submit the page.
2. Create a feed file:
SIS feeds need to be formatted a bit different than the ones used by the batch tool. SIS feeds require headers for each column, but allows them in any order where as the batch tool feeds had no headers but everything was in a strict order. For example here's what the same two courses would look like in a feed for each:
batch feed:
idA,nameA,descriptionA
idB,nameB,descriptionB
SIS feed:
EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY,COURSE_ID,COURSE_NAME,DESCRIPTION
idA,idA,nameA,descriptionA
idB,idB,nameB,descriptionB
Note that SIS also requires an external course key, which by default is the same as the course ID. For a full list of columns that SIS supports see the help page here. But back to your question, how do you make them copy from templates, the answer is the TEMPLATE_COURSE_KEY column.
EXTERNAL_COURSE_KEY,COURSE_ID,COURSE_NAME,DESCRIPTION,TEMPLATE_COURSE_KEY
idA,idA,nameA,descriptionA,templateA
idB,idB,nameB,descriptionB,templateB
Now that feed will create course "idA" as a copy of "templateA" and course "idB" as a copy of "templateB". If you leave the column empty for some courses, they will be created as standard new course shells. If course "idA" already exists when you run this feed through SIS, it will not copy templateA into it again (unless you mess with the advanced config).
3. Upload the feed to the integration
Now you have a feed file and an integration. The last step is to upload the feed using the "Upload Feed File" option from the dropdown of the integration you created. Select "Course" as the data type and "Store" as the operation. After uploading the feed it should process right away. You check the progress of it by choosing "View log" from the dropdown and you should see some messages indicating the courses are being created or errors saying why it failed.
That's the short version of how to use SIS to make courses as copies of templates. SIS has a ton of other options and features but this isn't the place to into any more detail.