haiku LMS

One of the main reasons I love my job is the challenge of designing software that keeps "Teachers in Motion". 

We spend a lot of time at haiku maximizing teacher time, and that means keeping our users moving seamlessly from point to point in their workflow.  If Sally Teacher has to stop to think, "Now what do I do next?" then we have a problem.

Thus, we are always on the lookout for the 'disconnect', the moment a user who is otherwise productive gets stymied by software. We want to build haiku so that our users' impulses are correct, their intuition is something to trust, and their minds are on nothing but content.  Software needs to be visceral and it needs to flow organically.  Like any other good tool it needs to be a seamless extension of your body and mind.

A Good Idea, Revisited

About a month and a half ago we ran across another web tool that did a simple introduction to their product.  It was a travelleing comic-book-like balloon that stepped the user through each of the main items on every page, explaining concepts as it went.  It was casual, comfortable, and completely removed the need for video training for the product.

It was only four to five steps, and nothing revolutionary, but I when I saw it in action, I knew it smoothed out a small bump in haiku's learning curve.

So a team of us sat down (thank you Mike and Marcos!), rewrote the help, storyboarded the process and laid out the plan.  We retired our old video help, which as a static resource was hard to maintain as new features were introduced.  We also retired our old introduction screens, which seemed to be ignored by our users anyway.  (Totally understandable, I might add... I tend to ignore them too).

Bal(lo)ons for haiku

Reynard, one of our developers, did the footwork on this project.  He created his 'Balon' (indonesian for Balloon) that we applied to every major element in haiku.   We are excited by the result.  Reynard's 'Balons' explain each button in a casual and unobtrusive way.  I think it is one of the most low-impact forms of help that I have ever encountered. 

And oh, by the way, If you have an account in haiku LMS, it appeared in your account this morning. :)

So, I'm excited, but I'd like to hear what you think.  Is it simple, is it elegant...and most importantly, does it get the job done?

So with that, I welcome you to haiku LMS, version 3.2.  Have fun!

-Bryan