Yellowdig is a social learning platform that integrates with Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas. It allows students and instructors to build active, social, and experiential learning communities for online, hybrid, and in-person programs. This guide is intended to serve as a resource for those using Yellowdig with courses that rely on Canvas’s Blueprinting feature. A blueprint course is a course that houses content you want to share to any number of associated courses. Blueprint courses are typically maintained by admins or course designers.
Integration in Blueprint Course:
- If Yellowdig is integrated into a Canvas course that is designated as a blueprint course, the Yellowdig Course Navigation link and/or Yellowdig Assignment link can be copied across all associated courses when content from the blueprint course is synced.
- Note that creating a Yellowdig community is optional in the blueprint course.
- Whether or not the blueprint course has a Yellowdig community created, each section that is created off the blueprint course will have its own unique Yellowdig Community. This community creation is done in each individual course when the course instructor or facilitator first launches into Yellowdig (read more here).
Locked Content:
- By default, associated course instructors can edit any course content added from the blueprint course. However, we understand some programs may need to lock editing options for instructors using the lock content options. Locking content or settings in the blueprint course can make it so that associated course instructors won't be able to modify or delete Yellowdig. Depending on your course delivery design you may or may not want to lock the Yellowdig Course Navigation link (Course Settings) and/or the Yellowdig Assignment link.
- While locking content and settings can ensure consistency in the use of Yellowdig across all associated courses, it’s important to consider that points for the assignment, due dates, availability dates, etc may be locked. In the case that multiple terms exist for a blueprint course, you’ll likely want to avoid adding due dates and availability dates for Yellowdig in the Assignment settings. Otherwise, you’d need to make this change for each new term and sync the content again each time. Yellowdig communities have internal start and end dates to specify the dates that learners can earn their grade in Yellowdig (read more here).
Syncing:
- When changes are made to the Yellowdig settings or content in the blueprint course and then synced, the changes will reflect in all associated courses.
Notifications:
- If the "Send Notification" checkbox is selected during syncing, instructors in associated courses will be notified of the changes made to Yellowdig content or settings.
Viewing Locked Content:
- Instructors in associated courses can view the Yellowdig content that has been synced and locked from the blueprint course. If they attempt to modify locked Yellowdig content, Canvas will display a locked attributes message, indicating that the content is locked and cannot be edited.
Blueprint Courses Filter:
- When searching for courses at the account or sub-account level, if an admin chooses to view only blueprint courses, they will see the courses with Yellowdig integrated if it was part of the blueprint. However, the specific associated courses will not be displayed in this filtered view.
In summary, Yellowdig's integration with Canvas can be streamlined and standardized across multiple courses using Canvas Blueprinting. By setting up Yellowdig in a blueprint course and determining which aspects are locked or editable, institutions can ensure a consistent Yellowdig experience for students and instructors across various courses.
FAQ
- Question: Does Yellowdig work with Canvas Blueprinting? Answer: Yes
- Question: Should we create a Yellowdig community in a blueprint course? Answer: Likely not, only if the blueprint course will have students in it.
- Question: Will new communities be created in the associated courses the first time we sync? Answer: When the instructor or TA for that section launches into Yellowdig for the first time, they will get prompted to create a new Yellowdig community.
- Question: Can each associated section get its own Yellowdig community even though the assignment was only created in the blueprint course: Answer: Yes, each section will have its own Yellowdig community. Here's how it works: In any associated section made out of your blueprint course, when the instructor or TA for that section launches into Yellowdig for the first time, they will get prompted to create a new Yellowdig community.
Given that the blueprinting function is developed by Canvas, please make sure to check their documentation as well for any relevant updates. We always recommend you run a small test just to see how it works and ensure that the experience is as expected for your faculty. If you discover any differences from the guide here, please let us know so we can update it. We at Yellowdig would be happy to join you in a call to look at anything together in case there are any questions or concerns during the testing with Canvas Blueprinting. Simply reach out to support@yellowdig.com
Audience: This help article is for Instructors, Designers, and Administrators. Students or Learners cannot access these settings.