Making A Course Backup


What is a course backup?

A course back-up is your entire course compressed and saved as a .zip file.  When you make a course backup, the file is automatically saved to the WebCT server and may be uploaded to restore a course that has become corrupted or lost.  After you make a course backup you should save a copy of the backup file to your hard drive.  In an emergency, you should have control or your course!

When should I make a course backup?

Periodically throughout the semester.  I would suggest scheduling a recurring appointment in Outlook to back-up your course every week or two.  You should save your brand new course at the very beginning of the semester and keep the file throughout the semester.  After that, you can delete previous backups after you create new ones.  For example, make a course backup in week 3, then delete the week 2 backup.  You may want to make special backups if you hear that a major storm (or a new Millennium) is approaching :-).


Procedure

1.  From the Homepage in Instructor View, click on the button labeled Course Management.

2.  Click on the button labeled Course Backup.

3.  Click on the button labeled Create Backup.

4.  A message box will appear.  Type in a description of the backup (such as "End of Unit I").  WebCT will automatically
     include the date.

5.  Click on the button labeled Continue.  WebCT will make a backup and save it to the WebCT server.

6.  After you see the word success, click on the button labeled Continue.  You will see the Course Backup Utility.  On it
     will be a table which includes the Backup Filename (as a link), File Size, and Description (the one you typed in step 4).

7.  To save this file to your own hard drive, click on the filename.  Click on the button labeled Download.  Click on the button
     labeled Save As.  Make a directory/folder for backups on your hard drive and save the file there.