Fresh Updates & Improvements to Our Guides

[Renee_Carney]

We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates about our user guides and the enhancements we're bringing to improve your experience. Here’s what you need to know:

Warm Welcome to LearnPlatform Guides

We’re excited to announce that our LearnPlatform guides are now officially part of the Instructure Community! A huge shout-out and heartfelt thanks go to our dedicated Product Specialists who have been tirelessly updating and migrating these guides. Their hard work ensures you have the most accurate, up-to-date information at your fingertips. We’re confident these updated guides will enhance your learning journey and make your experience smoother and more intuitive.

Introducing A New Style Guide for Non-Canvas LMS Products

We’re also pleased to unveil our new style guide for all products outside of Canvas LMS. This update is a big step forward in our commitment to delivering high-quality, user-friendly content. Here’s what’s new:

• Enhanced Efficiency: We’re leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to streamline guide creation. This ensures we maintain timely updates and the most relevant content for you.
• Diverse Formats: You’ve asked for more variety in how information is presented, and we’ve listened. Expect a rich mix of screenshots, text, video, and closed captioning to cater to your learning preferences.
• Temporary Trade-offs: While we’re excited about these advancements, there will be a temporary reduction in cross-linking and nuanced notes. We’re actively collaborating with Guidde.com to explore how these features might be reintroduced in the future.

For a sneak peek of the new style, check out the updated guides for Intelligent Insights.

Guide Audit and Cleanup

We’re kicking off a comprehensive audit and cleanup of our guides with the goal of enhancing their usability. Here’s what you can expect:

• Streamlined Content: We’re aiming to reduce the number of guides by 25%, focusing on eliminating duplicate information and archiving content with low viewership.
• Improved Search: Our goal is to make searching for information more intuitive and efficient. By consolidating guides and refining content, we’ll make it easier for you to find exactly what you need, quickly.

This is a significant undertaking and we anticipate it being an ongoing process through at least the end of the year. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we execute on our commitment to continuously enhancing and delivering the best possible resources for your needs. Keep an eye on our Community Blog for the latest news and updates.

Thank you for being a valued part of the Instructure Community. We look forward to bringing you these improvements and many more in the future!

[alexander_mitch]

I cannot say that I'm impressed by the Guidde videos I've encountered so far. I'm certainly willing to believe that it's faster to produce—and more efficient in that sense—but they are a clear downgrade for the user in terms of clarity and quality.

[rbungo]

Now that last year has ended, can anyone from Instructure confirm if the guide cleanup is complete?  It would be beneficial to know when the links are stable again and no longer at risk of being broken/changed.  Thanks!

[Naomi]

Hi, @rbungo! 

The clean up is complete for Canvas LMS. Additionally, we are working to embed even more how-to videos within those guides. Mastery Connect guide updates are approaching completion; there are a few manuals left to move to the new style guide formatting.

If and when a guide is removed, the URL included in the applicable manual's table of contents (e.g. the Canvas LMS Instructor table of contents) as well as the guide's "Printer Friendly Page" URL (often used when embedding a guide in a course) are redirected to the most relevant guide. 

Naomi

[christinawill]

The cleanup is complete? Videos are still displaying the horrible disclaimer banner that directs users to the Community for "up-to-date video tutorials" but those same videos are still posted in the Community guides. For example, Canvas Overview (Students)

If someone could at least change the messaging in the disclaimer banner to let users know a new video will be posted soon, that would be helpful. As it is, users are left thinking a new video is out there when it is not - or at least it's not easily discoverable. 

[Naomi]

Hi, @christinawill! 

We are in the process of replacing the current overview videos with shorts as part of a new project. Check out the What's Next for Instructure Video Guides? blog for more information. 

Naomi