M01f - Course backup

Keywords: backup, store, download, save, restore from backup

What is it?

This feature does allow course editors to backup an entire course, or particular activities and resources, excluding student data and restore this into another course if they choose to, or simply save the file for their own records.

Why use it?

If you want to store a copy of your resources and activities on your own computer, which you can restore back to UCL Moodle, or another Moodle installation (with a similar version and plugins) you can create a backup file.

Who can use it?

Course administrators and tutors can make a backup of their course (excluding student data) as often as they like.

Before I start...

Decide whether you would like to backup the entire course, or just particular elements.

You might also be able to backup particular items from other areas of Moodle - e.g. quiz questions can be backed up from the course question bank.

To prepare a module or programme course for the next academic year

NOTE: If you would like to prepare a module or programme course for the next academic year you should not use 'backup' and 'restore' but instead use the Moodle Course Rollover procedure.

Meeting the Baseline

There are no relevant elements of the UCL Connected Learning Baseline.

How do I backup a course?

Go into the course.
From Course navigation > More > Course reuse, select 'Backup'.
Initial settings - Select activities, blocks, filters and other items as required then click the Next button. Users with appropriate permissions, such as administrators and managers, can choose whether to include users, anonymize user information, or include user role assignments, groups, groupings, user files, comments, user completion details, course logs and grade history in the backup.
Schema settings - Select/deselect specific items to include in backup, then click the Next button.
If desired, select specific types of activity to be backed up by clicking the link 'Show type options'.
Confirmation and review - Check that everything is as required, using the Previous button if necessary, otherwise click the 'Perform backup' button.
Complete - Click the Continue button.

Further help

Further guidance on Course backups is available from Moodle Docs.

If you find any inaccurate or missing information you can even update this yourself (it's a communal wiki).

If you have a specific question about the tool please contact the Digital Education team.

Caution

Due to a change in Moodle security, manual course backups created by tutors or administrators can no longer contain student data, this includes all contributions made by students into any course.

If you would like a full backup with copy of your course, for whatever reason, please contact the Digital Education team, providing the direct URL to the course.

Examples and case studies

- None at this time.

Questions & Answers

- None at this time.

Further information

See M01g - Course restore.
See M30 - Preparing your Moodle course for the next Academic Year.