Migrate Your Course Content from Canvas to Brightspace

These steps will allow you to migrate your course content from Canvas to Brightspace.  If you would like our assistance with this process, or have questions or concerns, please contact us at InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu.

Before you begin the content migration process, we recommend Reviewing Content Migrated from Canvas to Brightspace.  This will overview the changes likely to take place with your content.

Export Your Canvas Course

This section will work through the process of exporting your Canvas course.  You will be asked in the next section to upload the resulting .imscc file into the Course Migrator tool in Brightspace.

  1. Log in to Canvas at https://canvas.iu.edu/
    Canvas screen
  2. Open your course
  3. Click Settings from the course navigation menu on the left
    Canvas screen
  4. Click Export Course Content on the right
    Canvas screen
  5. Ensure the Export Type is set to Course, then click Create Export
    Canvas screen
  6. When the export process is finished, click the Course Export from the Content Exports section. This will download a .imscc file to your computer. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not see the Course Export listed, please refresh the page.
    Canvas screen

Upload the Canvas File to the Course Migrator Tool

In this section, you will upload the Canvas file to the Course Migrator tool in Brightspace.  This tool will convert the file to a Brightspace sandbox course (also known as a DEV shell).  All conversion requests will be processed each day at 9PM ET.

The sandbox course will be available shortly after the process time.  It will be available under the All tab in Brightspace. 

Students will never see these sandbox courses.  They are a safe space for you to work with and revise course content as desired.  Once reviewed and revised, content can be copied from DEV courses into an academic course.  Academic courses will be listed in Brightspace with a naming convention like Fall 2024 ABC 12300-000 LEC and will appear under the corresponding semester tab.

  1. Login to Brightspace at purdue.brightspace.com using the Purdue West Lafayette button.
    Brightspace screen.
  2. Click Tools and select Course Migrator from the drop-down.
    Brightspace screen.
  3. Name the course as you would like it to appear in Brightspace. Ensure the Course Owner field reflects the Purdue career account of the individual who will own this course import in Brightspace.
    Brightspace screen.
  4. Upload the Canvas file. Click Submit.
    Brightspace screen.
  5. After import, your new Brightspace course will be displayed under My Courses in the All tab
    Brightspace screen.

Review Your Course Content in Brightspace

While the migration process from Canvas to Brightspace is generally quite good, there are differences between the two learning management systems. These changes are not limitations of either Canvas or Brightspace; they are just differences in how LMS’s are coded and how tools translate between platforms. We recommend you review all course content to identify and correct after migration. If you would like our assistance with this process, please contact us at InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu.

We recommend Reviewing Content Migrated from Canvas to Brightspace

There are several resources available to you as you begin this process:

  1. Brightspace Workshops
    • Purdue’s Teaching and Learning Technologies department will hold workshops for Purdue Indy instructors that introduce you to Brightspace, highlight the migration process, and note common issues to look for in migrated content.
    • Recordings from previous workshops are also available under the “Content from Previous Workshops” section.
  2. Daily Drop-In Sessions
    • Purdue’s Teaching and Learning Technologies department hold daily drop-in sessions open to all Purdue West Lafayette and Purdue Indy instructors. Here you can drop-in with quick questions and seek 1:1 assistance.
    • For an introduction to Brightspace, we would recommend attending a workshop, viewing a workshop recording, or scheduling a consultation.
  3. Documentation
    • Purdue’s Teaching and Learning Technologies department has a variety of self-help documentation available on various tasks and tools in Brightspace.
  4. Contact Us
    • For questions or to schedule a 1:1 consultation with a member of Purdue’s Teaching and Learning Technologies department, please feel free to email us anytime at InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu.