Moodle: Back up a course

Last Modified on 05/12/2023 2:32 pm EDT

Instructors can save a copy of a Moodle course by creating a "backup" file containing all course activities, formatting, and resources (i.e., readings, files, links, etc.) and storing it on a computer or network drive. Backups are saved in a compressed .mbz file format that can only be opened by restoring it into another Moodle course. 

Backups are useful for creating and storing archival copies of old Bryn Mawr Moodle courses that are scheduled for removal from our servers (see the College's Moodle Policy). You can also backup a course created on another Moodle site to upload the content into a Bryn Mawr Moodle course.  

Before you start, you will need:

  • an Editing teacher role (e.g. Instructor of record, Other editing teacher, or equivalent) in the course you are backing up
  • to be on campus or logged into the college VPN if you are backing up a course on Moodle Archive

Back up a course on Moodle Archive

Moodle Archive is our old Moodle site, containing academic courses from Fall 2017 through Summer 2020. (The site is a bright purple to alert people that is no longer current, but the pictures below are blue for better contrast.)

  1. Log into https://moodlearchive.brynmawr.edu using your college credentials. 

Note: You will only be able to log into Moodle Archive if you had a Bryn Mawr Moodle account in July 2020, have a working Bryn Mawr or Haverford username and password, and can log in from campus or via the College VPN. If you have difficulty, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.

  1. Open the course you want to back up.
  2. Click (Actions menu) and select Backup.
    A Moodle course's main settings menu with the
  3.  Click Jump to Final Step.
    A checklist marking the options: Include question bank, Include groups and groupings, Include competencies. Below, three blue buttons that read: Jump to final step, Cancel, Next.
  4. On the Confirmation and Review page, you can optionally rename the file to something more meaningful, then click Perform Backup.
  5. When you see Backup completed successfully, click Continue.
  6. Find the file you just created, and click Download.
    A screenshot of the Course Backup area, highlighting the option Download in red, to the right of the area.

Questions?

If you have any additional questions or problems, don't hesitate to reach out to the Help Desk!

Phone: 610-526-7440 | Library and Help Desk hours
Email: help@brynmawr.edu | Service catalog
Location: Canaday Library 1st floor


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