Migrating Content from Blackboard to SCORM-Compliant Course Packages

Do you need help migrating your content out of Blackboard? Contact the author, Steve Johnson, and he’ll gladly help you convert your content to SCORM, CD/DVD, stand-alone web server, or any other format you need.

Blackboard Migration

So you are thinking about performing a Blackboard migration and are not sure how to start. You are not alone. Many online trainers/educators now choose to create course content using a 3rd party course authoring tool or otherwise outside of the Learning Management System (LMS) to avoid having their content trapped in a proprietary system. While creating courses within an LMS like Blackboard may seem a quick and easy solution, what happens if you decide to switch to another LMS or want to deploy your content in other environments? Even if you wish stick with Blackboard, it may be worthwhile for you to convert your content to SCORM and re-import it back into the LMS. This way your content will not only become portable, it will also be more easily navigated by your students and have a superior look and feel tailored to your organization logo and branding.

The Blackboard LMS Course Export-Archive Tool

Blackboard offers a course archive/export tool, but this only allows you to back-up courses to the Blackboard specification and can only easily be added back into Blackboard. This feature is NOT designed for users to easily get their content out of Blackboard and into an alternative LMS. When you think about it, LMS providers have a vested interest in customers building content within their LMS so that it is harder to migrate away from them at a future date. The more your content is tied to a specific system, the fewer options your company to evaluate alternative solutions. With the changing LMS landscape and evolving technologies, you should be positioned to take advantage of competitive innovations, price reductions, and the like, without your content holding you back.

Converting Blackboard Archive Courses to SCORM

Where there is a will, there is a way! LearningDeveloper.com recently performed a Blackboard content conversion whereby they imported Blackboard Zip files  into a SCORM-compliant package. Because the exported files from Blackboard are “strongly-typed”,  Learning Developer developed a custom content conversion tool that imports the pictures and text from Blackboard courses into to an HTML/XML schema that complies with SCORM.  So now, the course content is wrapped up nicely in a stand-alone course “viewer” that includes a full table of contents, next/back buttons, glossary tool, support for in-line interactivities (e.g. Flash, Captivate, etc.) and more!

Solving The “Blackboard to Moodle” Issue

The Blackboard Moodle dilemma is one that many organizations face, especially for those who have authored all of their content within Blackboard. A solid Blackboard Export feature is dramatically lacking since it does not allow one to perform a simple Export Blackboard Courseto SCORM feature. So users who wish to even consider migrating to Moodle are faced with a lengthy and sometimes costly conversion scenario. The best way to solve this issue is to have a detailed Blackboard Migration plan that details how you will export blackboard coursesinto a format that is easily imported into any SCORM-compliant LMS including Moodle. 

Also note that there is a Moodle-based Blackboard course import tool that you can use. If this article is too technical for you, then we can help you perform the tasks described and move your content that way. However – note that converting courses to SCORM is a much cleaner approach that opens up many opportunities for you beyond just a Moodle migration. 

Rather than tackle this endeavour on your own and recreate the wheel, I invite you to contact me directly and learn how we have solved this issue time and time again for clients around the world.

Feel free to contact Learning Developer at sjohnson at LearningDeveloper.com if you need to have your content migrated out of Blackboard and converted into portable SCORM-compliant packages. And remember – going forward: Always author your courses outside of the LMS if there is even the remotest of chances that your content may outlive your LMS vendor relationship.

eLearning DevCon 2009 Review

The eLearning DevCon 2009 event was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, as it is every year. The accommodations and ground transportation were excellent, and the event fee was a reasonable $895 (less for early registrations). The event focused on both hands-on and lecture-based sessions that were targeted directly at eLearning developers.

I have attended many events like this in the past, and I can say that without a doubt this event is more focused on actual eLearning development best practices, tips, tricks, and training than any other. Unlike many events that tend to be unfocused and high-level theory, this event was filled with informative and practical eLearning development sessions delivered by actual practitioners. The “Bring your Own Laptop” (or BYOL) sessions were particularly interesting and effective – so much so that the event organizers are going to sponsor future events that are strictly hands-on training for folks who bring their own laptops with them.

If you are looking for a great, real-world eLearning development seminar to attend, definitely consider eLearning DevCon. A more detailed review will be posted soon. I’m still digesting all of the material, reviewing my notes, etc.