Bridging the Gap: Educating Users about Core Blocks and Block Themes

[alexdeborba]

As an educator actively involved in Facebook Groups, I am passionate about inspiring users to embrace block-based development through both WordPress Core Blocks and block themes. However, a recurring challenge lies in addressing misconceptions propagated by third-party builder enthusiasts. They often claim certain functionalities are impossible with Core Blocks and block themes, prompting me, as a developer, to provide counter-examples showcasing their true capabilities. For instance, I recently demonstrated creating responsive columns featuring post Featured Images, Titles, and Excerpts, and I could readily offer countless other examples to further support my points.

The adoption of the Block Editor and block themes is often hindered by widespread misinformation, leading users to engage in negativity rather than embracing their potential benefits. I believe this is partially due to the nature of content shared by WordPress. While informative, it primarily caters to seasoned developers and experienced users. In Facebook groups, sharing such posts necessitates extensive engagement with comments from users unfamiliar with the block approach or confused about its possibilities. For instance, many struggle to differentiate between columns, stacks, and rows. This suggests that even well-crafted content from WordPress can be ineffective in educating the general audience about the inherent possibilities.

Despite the existence of comprehensive information across various channels, users often struggle to locate it effectively. Interestingly, even developers, as I recently discovered, face similar challenges. While sharing a post titled "What's new for developers? (January 2024)," a commented expressed interest in the interactivity API, wondering if it might make it into 6.5. Remarkably, the same user was unaware of the "Feature Projects Overview" page, which details the current development status of various features. Upon sharing this link, they responded with gratitude, mentioning their appreciation for discovering the roadmap and its inclusion of two-factor authentication.

In the spirit of optimizing user experience, I propose conducting a survey to gather data on the accessibility of information for users. This feedback would be invaluable in streamlining information resources, particularly those pertaining to core blocks and block themes, and addressing any difficulties users encounter while seeking information about features and functionality.