A Common Cartridge is a standardized export file (a type of ZIP file) that contains course content and structure. It allows you to transfer a course from one learning environment to another, for example from Blackboard to Brightspace.
This guide explains how to export a course as a Common Cartridge and how to import it into another learning environment.
What is a Common Cartridge?
A Common Cartridge:
- Is a standardized course package (usually a .zip file)
- Contains course content such as pages, assignments, and structure
- Can be imported into another Learning Management System (LMS)
- May not transfer everything perfectly (depending on system compatibility)
Exporting a Brightspace course as a Common Cartridge
- Go to the course admin tab in a course
- Navigate to the Import/Export/Copy Components page
- Select: Export as Common Cartridge and press 'start'
In the next screen you can select which components to Export from your course.
- After selecting the components you can see an overview and start the download.
- Wait until the system generates the file and you should see a message with "Export finished" when you press on the bell icon on the upper right of the screen (next to your profile).
- In this screen you can download the file and you now have a Common Cartridge file ready for import.
Importing a Common Cartridge into Brightspace
- Reproduce step 1 & 2 from the exporting.
- In the "Import/Export/Copy Components" page select the option "Import Components" and then "from a course package"
- Here you can upload the zip (or other formats) and choose whether you want to import all the components or select specific ones using advanced options.
