Move Your Course from Moodle to Brightspace (Self-Service Guide)

Move Your Course from Moodle to Brightspace (Self-Service Guide)

This self-service guide supports educators in moving course content from Moodle into a Brightspace development shell. The video walks through creating a Moodle backup, downloading the backup file, importing it into Brightspace, and reviewing the migrated content before using it in a live course.

  • Create and download a Moodle backup file
  • Import the Moodle backup package into Brightspace
  • Review course content, files, quizzes, and question banks after migration

Watch the Video

Watch this walkthrough to learn how to move a Moodle course backup into a Brightspace development shell.

Step 1: Open Your Moodle Course

Start in the Moodle course you want to move into Brightspace.

  1. Go to your Moodle course.
  2. Select More.
  3. Select Course Reuse.
  4. Select Backup.

Step 2: Create the Moodle Backup File

Create a backup package that can be imported into Brightspace.

  1. Scroll down on the Moodle backup page.
  2. Select Jump to final step.
  3. Wait for Moodle to create the backup file. Larger courses may take several minutes.

Step 3: Download the Backup File

Once the backup is complete, Moodle will provide a downloadable backup file.

  1. Select Continue.
  2. Find the backup file you just created.
  3. Check the date to make sure you are downloading the correct file.
  4. Select Download.

The file will download as an .mbz file.

Step 4: Open Your Brightspace Development Shell

After downloading the Moodle backup file, go to the Brightspace development shell where you want to import the course content.

  1. Log in to Brightspace.
  2. Open your development shell.
  3. Select Course Admin.

Step 5: Start the Import in Brightspace

Use the Brightspace import tool to upload the Moodle backup package.

  1. In Course Admin, select Import/Export/Copy Components.
  2. Choose Import Components.
  3. Select from a course package.
  4. Select Start.
  5. Upload the .mbz file you downloaded from Moodle.

Brightspace has an upload limit, so very large Moodle backups may require additional support.

Step 6: Choose Import Options

After the package uploads and converts, Brightspace will ask which components you want to import.

  1. Select Advanced Options.
  2. Select the course components you want to import.
  3. Choose the destination folder, or keep the default folder.
  4. Review duplicate file options, such as overwriting existing files.
  5. Use date offset options only if you need to adjust course dates.
  6. Select Continue.

Step 7: Review and Confirm the Import

Before running the import, review your selections.

  1. Review the selected components.
  2. Confirm the import settings.
  3. Select Continue to begin the import.

The import may take a few minutes depending on the size of the course.

Step 8: View and Check Imported Content

When the import is complete, select View Content to review the migrated course materials.

  • Moodle topics will appear as Units in Brightspace.
  • Open each unit to check that content imported correctly.
  • Review links, files, pages, quizzes, and other activities.
  • Begin editing and organizing the course for delivery in Brightspace.

Step 9: Check Files and Question Banks

After importing, check key areas in Course Admin to confirm that files and quiz materials transferred correctly.

  1. Go to Course Admin.
  2. Open Manage Files to review imported Moodle files and folders.
  3. Go back to Course Admin.
  4. Open Quizzes.
  5. Select Question Library to review imported question banks.

Brightspace should preserve the organization of Moodle question banks, but it is important to check that everything moved across correctly.

Step 10: Prepare for the Live Course Shell

If you imported the course into a development shell, you can later copy the prepared content into your live Brightspace course shell.

Use the development shell to clean up content, update links, adjust dates, and confirm that your course is ready before students access it.

Need Help?

For educator support with Brightspace or Moodle-to-Brightspace migration, contact the Educational Technology team:

edtech@okanagan.bc.ca

For general questions about the LMS project or migration, contact Teaching and Learning Innovations:

tli@okanagan.bc.ca

Students looking for Brightspace support should contact support@okanagan.bc.ca.

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