What 870 [randomly selected] online communities tell us about belonging — and how to improve it
I was in a conversation with one of our partners, a senior administrator responsible for institutional effectiveness. There is significant focus on retention, and as a result, on student belonging. They are doing an amazing job, but even a 1% lift is sizable—both for student success and the financial bottom line. What got me thinking […]
The Coverage Gap: The Most Important Metric in Online Education Few are Talking About
There’s a number I’ve been obsessing over lately. It’s called Community Coverage. And it’s deceptively simple. It measures the average percentage of their classmates that each student actually interacts with — through posts, comments, mentions, or reactions. Not who enrolled. Not who logged in. How much of the community each student is actually touching. Think […]
If Students Have Something to Say, Let Them Talk : A Yellowdig Story
Dr. Scott StandiferSouthern California University of Health Sciences Challenge: Traditional discussion boards feel structured and predictable. Students complete prompts, but rarely explore ideas beyond them. The human moment “This is how I kind of envision a discussion board, as a sort of stair step of knowledge. At the end of the course, we end […]
When Students Turn to Each Other First : A Yellowdig Story
Dr. Kevin Carr University of Michigan Challenge: Students defaulted to instructor answers or external tools instead of learning through each other. The human moment “They can ask their peers, and they get a much better and more interesting response, and they’re more part of a community through that.” — Kevin Carr Dr. Carr teaches […]
Announcing Yellowdig's Guaranteed Retention Outcome
Higher education is facing a structural challenge. Enrollment pressure is real. Student acquisition costs are rising. And too many capable students quietly disengage before we see it coming. The data is clear: academic performance alone does not predict persistence. Connection does. Belonging is no longer a “student life” concept. It […]
When Students Choose the Space : A Yellowdig Story
Dr. Mark HowellNorthwestern Michigan College Challenge: Students treated the LMS as a checklist, discussion boards felt transactional, and engagement was shallow. The human moment “They will go to Yellowdig before they go to Canvas.” — Mark Howell. When Dr. Mark realized students were choosing Yellowdig on their own, he changed his behavior, too. “I upload […]
Making Space for Quiet Voices : A Yellowdig Story
Dr. Jane Smith University of Florida Challenge: The same few voices dominated the discussion, while many thoughtful students remained invisible, especially online The human moment “It really gives them a place to speak up and share their experience—to feel like they’re more than just a student.” – Jane Smith. Dr. Jane teaches students who […]
3 Tips for Training Faculty on Yellowdig
In my last blog, I shared some great tips for instructors, but for my trainers out there, don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you. As a trainer, it is our job to provide the tools and resources needed so faculty feel confident and capable as instructors. As a Faculty Success Manager, I have been training […]
What a Year of Student Learning Data Reveals About Education in the Age of AI
Shaunak Roy CEO & Founder Yellowdig Every wave of educational technology arrives with the same fear: “Will this finally make students passive?” AI has amplified that concern. When answers are instant and content is abundant, what’s left for learners to actually do? At Yellowdig , we’ve had the privilege of observing a different layer of […]
Yellowdig Acquires GetSet Learning to Expand Full Lifecycle Learner Engagement
Bringing GetSet’s early-journey expertise into Yellowdig to boost enrollment, retention, and alumni connection across the lifecycle. PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia, PA – [Sept 25, 2025] – Yellowdig, a leader in active learning and social engagement platforms, announced today the acquisition of GetSet Learning, a pioneering student enrollment and retention company. This strategic move underscores Yellowdig’s deepening commitment to […]