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Instructor Responsibilities

Select a responsibility below to learn more about it.

How to Create a Post in Yellowdig

One of the most important features of Yellowdig is posting. Posting is the best way for students to earn points in Yellowdig and is critical to driving discussion in the platform. Because of Yellowdig's intuitive, social media-like design, you'll likely find it quick and easy to post in Yellowdig!

As the instructor, you may be required to post a prompt each week. Check the IFI area for course specific guidance. You may also wish to post in the community to provide prompts for conversation.

Step 1

Create New Post

In your Yellowdig community select the create button outlined

While inside a community, select Create from the utility panel.

Step 2

Title Your Post

Enter Title of post in field labeled Title outlined

Titling posts is required in Yellowdig. To title a post, select the Title text box and enter the desired title.

Step 3

Add Topic(s)

Yellowdig posts must also belong to at least one topic. Topics are valuable because they can be used later to sort and filter community posts. There are several topics available for you to choose from; available topics vary by course.

Note: During course design, the developer may have added course specific topics. If you notice trends in discussion or want to start a unique topic, you can follow the Yellowdig Support Article: Creating, Using, Disabling, and Deleting Topics to create custom topics for your section of the course!

To add a topic to a post, select the Add Topic button

Add Topic button outlined on top of your new post

Select at least 1 relevant topic from the list that appears. Topics vary by course.

Add Topic button menu with list of topics

Step 4

Add Content

Post main content outlined with content text length goal outlined

The most important step to posting in Yellowdig is adding content! Students have the potential to earn a great deal of points when posting content that is insightful, thorough, and engaging.

While creating the post content, students will see how many points the post will earn.

Note: As the instructor, you can always adjust the number of points awarded for a post at any time. This gives you the flexibility to override the points awarded by the platform logic. To read more about scoring, visit the Scoring tab of the general information page.

Step 5

Add Features

Add Features available for Post labeled A-I

There are many features you can add to a post. These features are a great way for students to improve the quality of their posts and make them more engaging to their peers.

Read more about each feature below:

  1. Topics: Add topics that relate to your post using the Topics feature. Adding topics helps your community members filter and sort posts.
    Yellowdig Support Article: Add Topic(s)
  2. Drafts: If you have posts you've worked on but haven't posted, they will appear in drafts. The number of drafts you have available will be denoted with a number in a blue circle above the button.
  3. Pin to Top: The instructor can pin a post to the top of the community feed. The rest of the feed will update beneath all pinned posts, so be sure to unpin a post once it is no longer needed at the top of the feed.
  4. Attach: Choose between the following options to add external content to your post
    • File: You can attach files like Word documents or Excel spreadsheets. Select File, then select the desired file from your computer to add it to the post.
      Yellowdig Support Article: Add a File
    • Video: To add a video file, select the Video feature, then select the desired file from your computer to add it to the post.
      Yellowdig Support Article: Add a Video File

      Note: To add a YouTube, TedTalk, or other web-hosted video, paste the video URL in the textbox. Depending on the host website, an information card for the video will automatically populate.
    • Image: To add an image to your post, select the Image feature, then select the desired image file from your computer to add it to the post.
      Yellowdig Support Article: Add an Image
    • Audio: To add an audio file to your post, select the Audio feature, then select the desired audio file from your computer to add it to the post.
  5. Record: Allows you to record video or audio to add to your post.Yellowdig Support Article: Record Video or Audio Snippet
  6. Emoji: When you select an Emoji, it will appear at your cursor position in the content section of the post.
    Yellowdig Support Article: Add Emoji(s)
  7. Draw: Adding drawings to your post can help your community members visualize your point(s). This feature lets you draw using your mouse (or finger on touch screens) with different size and color brushes. You can also upload a background image and describe your drawing.
    Yellowdig Support Article: Add a Drawing
  8. Poll: Polls are an effective way to gain input from the entire community in Yellowdig.
    Yellowdig Support Article: Create a Poll
  9. Formula: Adding mathematical formulas to your Yellowdig post can be easily accomplished using the Formula feature. This feature uses LaTeX code to generate mathematical formulas. The editor can be used with the built in virtual keyboard or hard coded in the basic editor with LaTeX code.
    Yellowdig Support Article: Inserting Formulas & Code Snippets

Step 6

Example Post

Select top bar active sessions button in JBL

After you have finished adding the content of your post, select Post to submit it to the community feed. Your community members will be able to reply and react to it. For students, their points earned will also automatically be updated.

As more community members post, your post will shift in the community feed as the most recent posts will always go to the top of the feed, below any posts the instructor (you) have pinned.

How to Engage with Posts in Yellowdig

Engaging with posts from other users is an essential feature of Yellowdig as it allows users to earn points and offer feedback for their ideas.

As the instructor, your reactions to posts help guide student-led instruction. There are a few ways to engage with a post as the instructor: Adding a Reaction, Adding a Comment, or Awarding Accolades. If you are reacting or commenting on a post, we highly recommend you also consider giving it an accolade as well, if appropriate.

Students are also encouraged to flag/report any posts that may have inappropriate, off-topic, plagiarised, or otherwise worrisome content. You can review and manage flagged content under Settings. As an Instructor it is your responsibility to ensure you are Moderating the Community for any innapropriate content.

Adding a Reaction

Adding an emoji reaction to a post offers your community members quick insight on their ideas. To react to any content in Yellowdig, follow these steps:

Step 1

Add Reaction

Select the add reaction icon outlined and arrowed to, to add a reaction

On the post you would like to react to, select the Add Reaction icon.

Step 2

Choose Reaction

List of all reactions in Yellowdig

Select whichever emoji you'd like to use for your interaction. You may scroll through the emojis or use the search bar, but the most commonly used reactions are located at the top.

Removing a Reaction

Select the reaction icon you would like to remove, and it will be removed from the post. If other community members have added the same reaction, Yellowdig will only remove your reaction from the overall count.

Adding a Comment

Commenting is the most informative way to engage with your community members' posts. This allows you to give in-depth feedback on your community members' ideas, while earning points for you and the author of the original post.

Step 1

Add Comment

Post in Yellowdig Select the reaction button outlined and arrowed to

On the post you would like to engage with, select Comment.

Step 2

Add Content

Add the content of your comment to the text area. For information on how to use the Yellowdig post features, review the Creating a Post tab.

Step 3

Submit Comment

To Post a comment, after all content is in the text area, select post comment outlined

To add your comment, select Submit.

Adding a comment is an activity that boosts a post to the top of the Yellowdig feed, regardless of the original post date.

Flag/Report a Post

If you find any content in your community to be inappropriate, off-topic, plagiarised, or otherwise worrisome, you should report it. To report a post or comment, follow these steps:

Step 1

Flag Post

On an Inappropriate post, select the Flag icon outlined and arrowed to

On the inappropriate post, select Flag Post.

Step 2

Flag Form

Give a brief explanation why the post does not belong in the community, and select the report reason that best matches the post.

Step 3

Submit Flag

After explaining why the post was flagged, select submit outlined

After filling out the report form, select Submit to send the report to your instructor for review.

Moderating the Community

Blocked words:

  • Particular words can be chosen to be blocked. Posting/commenting will not be completed if a blocked word is used
  • To enable or modify blocked words see Blocked Words / Community Moderation

Instructors and students can flag posts/comments if they are:

  • Inappropriate
  • Off-topic
  • Plagiarism
  • Worrisome

When a post/comment is flagged, it is removed from the Yellowdig feed and is then accessible only by the instructor. The student loses points for flagged posts/comments. The instructor can decide to keep or return flagged posts/comments to the feed.

How to Adjust a Student's Points

Remember, Scoring is determined by the Point System established by the course developer. Do not adjust the Point System settings for the community without permission from the college.

You may wish to adjust a student's points earned if you feel a student earned more (or less) points than what the system awarded.

  • How to Adjust Points on a Post/Comment
  • How to Adjust a Student's Overall Points Earned

If you are trying to reward a student for excellent work, we strongly recommend Awarding Accolades as this provides a visual cue to classmates that the response is exemplar and awards the student additional points. However, you can adjust points and award accolades on any post or comment.

If you have approved a course extension (Incomplete) for a student at the end of the term, for any Yellowdig posts that occur past the last point earning window (e.g. week 9, etc.), it is necessary to manually add points using the feature ‘How to Adjust a Student's Overall Points Earned’.

Note: Students will never be able to see the number of points earned by their peers.

How to Adjust Points on a Post/Comment

Use the instructions below to adjust a student's points earned.

Step 1

Manage Points

Select the manage points icon outlined and arrowed to

While inside a community, find the post you want to adjust. Select the Manage Points Manage Points icon on the post.

Step 2

Add/Subtract Points

Fill in points value field outlined and an optional message field outlined then select submit arrowed to

A dialogue box will open. Enter a positive number to add points or a negative number to subtract points. It is highly recommended to add a message for the student, as feedback will help them engage with the community. The only way to undo an adjustment is to do another adjustment of points.

Select Submit when finished.

Note: Once you've submitted an adjustment, you will not be able to view that adjustment directly on the post. Instead, you can access a student's score log by navigating to Data > Reports; you'll see the points a student earned for comments, posts, accolades, and adjustments.

How to Adjust a Student's Overall Points Earned

In addition to adjusting points by post, you can adjust a student's overall points.

Step 1

Points Report

In your community, select data outlined, then in the submenu select Points Report outlined

In the community, select Data then Points Report.

Step 2

Select Student(s)

Select a student(s) labeled 1, then select +/- adjust points labeled 2

Locate the student(s) that needs the point adjustment and check the box to the left of their name. Then select +/- Adjust Points.

Step 3

Give/Take Away Points

Enter a number of points to give/takeaway outlined with an optional message outlined then select the date and time you want the points applied outlined then select the submit button

A dialogue box will open. Enter a positive number to add points or a negative number to subtract points. It is highly recommended to add a message for the student, as feedback will help them engage with the community. Specify the date and time. The only way to undo an adjustment is to do another adjustment of points.

Awarding Accolades

The instructor can award an accolade for any post or comment in the Yellowdig community. Accolades are a way to reward and recognize insightful or conversation-generating posts or comments; accolades also award students additional points. Accolades should be 'rare, but attainable', and awarded for exemplary posts that provide valuable content and drive engagement. Accolades are also a way for students to quickly identify quality, instructor approved content.

The course developer has already set up accolades for your Yellowdig Community. Do not adjust the provided accolades for the community without permission from the college. You can create your own accolades to add to the provided ones.

  • How to Award Accolades
  • How to Create Custom Accolades

How to Award Accolades

Step 1

Manage Accolades

In your community, select the Manage Accolades icon outlined and arrowed to

While inside a community, find the post you want to award one or more accolades. Select the Manage Accolades icon on the post.

Step 2

Select Accolade(s)

Select top bar active sessions button in JBL

A dialogue box will open. Select the accolade(s) you wish to award; a icon will appear next to selected accolades. Hover over the accolade badge to view the number of points it will award the student.

Close the box by selecting the arrows in the top right corner.

Note: You can remove an accolade by unselecting it.

How to Create Custom Accolades

You may wish to create a custom accolade if you want to provide additional options to reward students.

Note: Accolades you create will not carry over term to term. If you wish to create your own accolades, you will have to recreate them each term you teach with Yellowdig.

Step 1

Accolades

In your community, Select the Settings outlined, then from the submemu select Accolades outlined

In the community, select Settings then Accolades.

Step 2

Accolade Settings

In Accolade Setings, select Create New Accolade outlined and arrowed to

Select Create New Accolade.

Step 3

Create New Accolade

After filling in specified fields, select submit arrowed to

Enter the following information:

  • Accolade name
  • Accolade Color
  • Accolade point value
  • Accolade inner icon

When complete, select Submit. Your custom accolade is now available for you to award to posts or comments!

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This page was last updated June 10, 2025