Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Instructure Products

The content in this blog is over six months old, and the comments are closed. For the most recent product updates and discussions, you're encouraged to explore newer posts from Instructure's Product Managers.

MPioRoda
Instructure
Instructure
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Based on feedback from our community, we have changed the icon for item banks and resources within Canvas LMS and Mastery Connect from a piggy bank to a file folder. We have recently received feedback from our users from various cultural groups that the pig has negative connotations, and we want all learners to feel comfortable using Instructure products. As a global company, we want to recognize the nuanced cultural differences and avoid using imagery that is offensive. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging and to serving all members of the Instructure family. 

What’s happening?

Our goal at Instructure is to boost teaching and amplify learning. This is only possible when educators, learners, and Instructure employees feel safe, respected, and supported. 

Part of this work is to listen to our community. As a global company, we are consistently listening and working to better understand the cultural differences of both our employees and our customers. This work takes place in our personal interactions, and it extends into the development of our products. 

One example of these efforts is in the recent change to the iconography for item banks in both Canvas LMS and Mastery Connect and the resources tab in Canvas for Elementary, which have historically been symbolized by a piggy bank icon. We understand that in many communities the pig has negative connotations, and we want all learners to feel valued and respected using Instructure products in every way possible. That’s why we have changed the symbol from a piggy bank to a file folder, which also more accurately reflects the functionality of the features. 

We are grateful to our community for bringing this to our attention so that we can learn from you. The dialogue we have with you empowers us to better serve all educators, learners, and employees and promote our values of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. 

We look forward to our continued work in creating products that enhance learning more equitably.

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Date: In Production for Quizzes July 13 and Canvas For Elementary (C4E) July 06 2022. Mastery Connect will update icon by end of July 2022.

Segments Impacted: K-12 and HE 

Buyers Impacted: K-12 and HE Canvas LMS customers

The content in this blog is over six months old, and the comments are closed. For the most recent product updates and discussions, you're encouraged to explore newer posts from Instructure's Product Managers.

1 Comment
Jeff_F
Community Champion

To me, the piggy bank icon is a visual reminder to save for a future need. Thinking on this a little, this piggy bank icon has likely lost its meaning as many people today use online banking and may never physically hold currency. And the concept of saving is obscured as we are perpetually tempted to make purchases on credit instead of controlling expenses and unnecessary spending. But I understand the point of changing it as both the Torah and Quran speak against consumption of the unclean split hoven mammal that does not chew its cud.

Perhaps at some future point the contextual meaning of a manila file folder will be lost. To illustrate, we've been paperless for over a decade now so we simply do not use file folders. I suspect if we looked we could find some issue with that icon as well.