Content Migration from Moodle to Canvas

When migrating content from Moodle to Canvas, you can choose all or specific content. Expand the steps below for detailed instructions.

TIPS

• Select ALL Moodle content, to make sure you don't miss anything, and delete/hide content at the Canvas site.
• If migrating quiz question banks, be sure to select ALL Moodle content for the backup file.

BASIC STEPS

(Click "+" button to view instructions.)

Step 1: Create a Backup (mbz) file of your Moodle site

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Go to your Moodle site (you do not need to turn on editing):

• From the Administration block
  • go to Course administration
  • click on Backup

• Opens to page: 1. Initial Settings
  • under Backup settings, click the blue Next button

(You shouldn’t have to do anything at this page other than click Next - leave the boxes that have been checked “as is” and don’t check any unselected boxes.)

• Opens to page: 2. Schema settings

Under Include:

• The boxes for every item and user data are checked (selected) by default
• Leave all User data boxes checked - student data is automatically removed during this process (unless you posted the student’s work, then that will need to be removed manually)
  • TIP REMINDER: Leave all content selected to ensure you don’t miss any items - you can always delete/hide content at the Canvas site.
• To deselect an entire section (and all its items), click on the checkbox next to the section’s name (e.g. “Week 1”)
• To deselect items, click an item’s checkbox

When finished, click the blue Next button.

Opens to page: 3. Confirmation and review

• Skip the Filename and Backup settings sections at top
• Under the Included items section: double-check that the content you would like to be included in the backup file is indicated with a green checkmark.

When finished, click the blue Perform backup button.

Allow some time for processing (process time will vary depending on amount of content).

After backup has been performed, the next page you should see is 5. Complete, showing the message: The backup file was successfully created. Click Continue.

Step 2: Download the mbz file to your computer

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Now you should be at the page: Import a backup file

• Locate the mbz file from the list under Course backup area (should be at top of the list, the one with the most recent day/time stamp.)
• Click the Download link (to right of the file name)
• Save the file to your computer.

Step 3: Import the mbz file into your Canvas site

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From your Canvas site, click on Settings at bottom of the Course Navigation menu

• From the Course settings page, right sidebar, click on Import Content into this Course

At the Import Content page:

• for Content Type: select Moodle 1.9/2.x from the drop-down menu
• for Source: click Choose File - browse to and select the mbz file on your computer
• Skip Default Question bank
• for Content: select All content
• Skip Options
• When finished, click the blue Import button

Allow some time for processing (import time varies depending on amount of content).

Import completion will show under Current Jobs as green if successful, or yellow if there are any error messages.

Hide, delete, and/or reorder content on your Canvas site as needed.

If you would like help with migrating content, please contact Academic Computing for assistance.

Related pages

• Canvas Orientation for Faculty
• Canvas for Students

Canvas Guide Topics

• Canvas Guide
• Canvas at Evergreen
• Technical Requirements
• Designing Your Canvas Course
• Canvas Site Templates
• Enrollment Information for Canvas
• Communication Tools
• Assignments and Quizzes
• Assessment and Grading Tools

Still Need Help?

• Canvas Guides for Faculty
• Canvas Student Guides