Social learning that actually works, because nobody reads dead discussion forums
Yellowdig replaces the traditional LMS discussion forum with something learners genuinely want to use: a social learning feed that feels like a real community. Lightweight gamification, mentor channels, moderated cohort spaces, and recognition badges drive the kind of peer interaction that textbooks cannot replicate. We integrate it directly into your Open edX courses via LTI.
Discussion forums have a participation problem, and Yellowdig fixes it
Every LMS has a discussion forum. And in most courses, that forum follows the same pattern: the instructor posts a prompt, a handful of students respond because they have to, and the conversation dies within 48 hours. The problem is not that learners do not want to talk. The problem is that forums feel like homework.
Community Features
Everything that makes peer learning stick
Course-Scoped Communities
Each course gets its own community space. Learners post, comment, react, and share resources in a social feed that stays focused on the course content.
Mentor Channels
Dedicated spaces where teaching assistants, industry mentors, or guest experts can interact with learners. Bring outside perspectives into the learning experience without cluttering the main feed.
Lightweight Gamification
Points for posting, commenting, and earning peer reactions. Leaderboards that motivate without pressuring. The gamification is calibrated to encourage quality contributions, not just volume.
Moderated Cohort Feeds
Organise learners into smaller cohorts within a course. Each cohort has its own feed, creating the intimacy of a small group within a large-scale programme.
Recognition Badges
Peer-awarded and system-awarded badges that recognise helpful contributions, consistent participation, and community leadership.
Engagement Analytics
Instructors see who is participating, how deeply, and whether engagement is trending up or down. Early warnings help you intervene before learners disengage entirely.
Technical Integration
How Yellowdig connects to Open edX
LTI Connection
Yellowdig connects to Open edX via LTI. Learners access the community directly from within their course without navigating to a separate website or creating another account.
Grade Passback
Participation scores can be sent back to the Open edX gradebook via LTI grade passback. Assign a participation grade that reflects genuine community engagement.
Role Sync
Instructor and learner roles are passed automatically via LTI. Instructors get moderation tools. Learners get the social feed. No manual role assignment required.
Ready to build your learning ecosystem?
Talk to an architect about how this fits your institution. No slide decks. No pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Yellowdig and Open edX
It can. Many institutions disable the default forum and use Yellowdig as the sole discussion space. Others run both side by side and let learners gravitate toward the experience they prefer. In practice, Yellowdig gets significantly more engagement.
Yes. Yellowdig works well at scale because of its cohort feature. You can divide a 500-person course into smaller community groups of 30 to 50, giving each group the feeling of a small seminar while the course itself runs at scale.
Yellowdig uses a points system that rewards posting, commenting, and earning reactions from peers. Instructors set the total points available and the distribution rules. The system sends the earned score back to Open edX automatically.
Yes, though it works best when there is a cohort moving through the content together. For fully self-paced courses, you can create evergreen community spaces where learners at different stages contribute to an ongoing discussion.