Preparing your Angel Course for a Blackboard Migration

It is time for Spring cleaning.  If we can clean up our courses now, the Blackboard transition will be easier for everyone. Here are seven simple tasks:

1. Remove the access dates from folders for your earlier courses (2 years old or more).
2. Use file names that will convert to Blackboard easier:
   1. Rename files that contain any symbols, underscores, dashes, etc.
   2. Remove subtitles on your content and learning activities.  Subtitles in ANGEL do not migrate) Also revise the titles if necessary to be descriptive of the content and activities.
3. Clean up the course to contain only working current files:
   1. Remove anything that does not work in ANGEL.  Ex: links that are not correct, goes to page not found, etc.
   2. Remove any old data that you do not use anymore. Ex: Tests, dropbox assignments, private folders, etc. During migration all activities are added to the Grade Center and may be difficult or impossible to remove.  While they can be deactivated or hidden, it is recommended that you clean these out instead to keep your course clean and running smoothly.
4. Make a list of areas that contain navigation instructions that will need to be updated once the course is migrated and you become familiar with the relevant navigation in Blackboard Learn. For a partial list, see the previous post - Angel vs Blackboard.  The Discussion terms change in Blackboard from Angel as well.  Some new terms include: Discussion board, forum, thread, post reply,  discussion list or tree view. 
5. Change surveys to tests if desired.  Surveys in Blackboard are anonymous.
6. Remove all references to ANGEL and refer to them as Learning Management System.
7. If desired convert Word documents to pdfs.  Pdfs open in line in Blackboard Learn.  Word documents open in a new tab in Blackboard Learn.

Special thanks to Nancy Hall for helping develop this post.