Good learning material has one big enemy, and that enemy is time. A lesson that was perfect two years ago may now show old screenshots, mention menus that have moved, or link to pages that no longer exist. The WordPress Training Team knows this well, and it has started a big project to deal with it: finding outdated content in the Training Team handbook and updating it.
In this article, we explain what this project is, why it matters, how the handbook is edited, and how you can help even if you are a complete beginner.
What Is the WordPress Training Team?
The Training Team is a volunteer group inside the WordPress community. It is part of the larger Make WordPress network, where people from many countries work together to build and improve the WordPress project. The Training Team creates and maintains the lessons, courses, and workshops that people use to learn WordPress, and it publishes its finished lesson plans on the Learn WordPress website at learn.wordpress.org.
Behind the public lessons is a document the team uses to organize its own work. This is the Training Team handbook, and it explains how the team works, how to create and review content, and how new volunteers can get started.
What Is the Handbook Project About?
According to the Training Team’s monthly updates in 2026, the team started a big project to find outdated content in the handbook and update it. The updates invite volunteers to learn more about the project and join in, and they point people to the #training channel on the WordPress Slack workspace for questions and support.
This work did not appear out of nowhere. Earlier team notes show that the idea has been growing for some time. In a 2023 meeting recap, the team asked for volunteers to help audit the handbook and described getting the handbook pages updated as the highest priority. In a July 2025 recap, the team said it needed to update all handbook, course, and lesson content, and that a good first step was to find and label outdated content and to make a list of broken links.
Why Does Outdated Content Matter?
You might wonder why a few old words or screenshots are such a big deal. There are several good reasons.
It confuses learners. If a lesson shows a button that has moved or been renamed, a beginner may think they made a mistake. This can cause frustration and may even make people give up.
It confuses new contributors. The handbook is the guide for volunteers. When it contains old steps or broken links, new members may struggle to understand how to take part.
It hurts trust. People trust learning resources that look current and well cared for. Fresh, accurate content shows that the team takes quality seriously.
WordPress keeps changing. The software gets regular updates, and the community keeps improving how things work. Learning content must keep pace with these changes to stay useful.
What Counts as Outdated Content?
Outdated content can take several forms. Here are the most common types that a careful reader might notice.
- Old screenshots that no longer match what the dashboard looks like today.
- Steps or instructions that describe a process the team no longer follows.
- Broken links that lead to pages that have moved or been removed.
- Spelling mistakes and unclear wording that make a page harder to understand.
- Old names or structures that do not match how the team is organized now.
The Training Team’s own notes mention several of these. A 2023 recap asks members to report outdated content or screenshots and spelling mistakes, and a 2025 recap highlights broken links as a key thing to find.
How the Handbook Is Edited
The Training Team has a clear page that explains how to make changes to its handbook, and the right action depends on the size of the change.
Minor Changes
Minor changes, such as a typing or grammar mistake, can be edited directly by an experienced team member.
Moderate Changes
Moderate changes, such as making an existing page clearer, can also be edited directly by an experienced member. In this case, the editor should let the team admins know in the #training channel that an update was made.
Major Changes
Major changes, such as a large overhaul of a process, should be discussed with the wider team. They can be raised in a GitHub issue, a team meeting, or a proposal posted on the team blog.
What If You Are New?
The guidance is friendly to newcomers. If you are a newer contributor, you do not edit directly. Instead, you can raise the issue in the #training channel by pinging the team admins on Slack, or you can submit a GitHub issue. This keeps the process safe and organized while still letting you help from your first day.
How a Beginner Can Help: A Simple Plan
The best news is that you do not need advanced skills to help. In a July 2025 recap, the team said this work can be a great start for new contributors, and it suggested a simple approach: read the handbook and look for something that does not sound right. Here is a step-by-step way to follow that idea.
- Create a WordPress.org account. This is the free account used across the WordPress community.
- Join the Make WordPress Slack workspace. Use your WordPress.org username to log in, and then find the #training channel.
- Say hello and share your interest. A short message telling the team you would like to help with the handbook project is a great start.
- Read the onboarding material. The team offers an onboarding program for newcomers, which helps you understand how the group works.
- Read a handbook page slowly. Choose one page and compare what it says with what you see in WordPress today.
- Note what you find. Write down any old screenshots, unclear steps, spelling mistakes, or links that do not work.
- Report it the right way. Share your findings in the #training channel or in a GitHub issue, as the handbook editing guide suggests.
Practical Tips for Spotting Problems
These are general suggestions that can make your review easier. They are not official rules, but they work well for most documentation projects.
- Read with the real dashboard open. Keep a test WordPress site in another tab so you can check each step as you read.
- Review one page at a time. Small, focused reviews are easier to finish than trying to check everything at once.
- Test every link. Click each link and note any that fail or lead to an unexpected page.
- Keep clear notes. Write the page name, the exact sentence or image, and what looked wrong, so others can find it quickly.
- Ask when unsure. If a step seems odd but you are not certain, ask in the #training channel instead of guessing.
Learning Along the Way
Helping with the handbook is also a great way to learn. In its May 2026 update, the Training Team mentioned that it had started a series of workshops about working with the Training Team handbook, with the first one already hosted by a team member. Reading closely, comparing steps, and talking with other volunteers will teach you a lot about both WordPress and open source teamwork, and you can earn the confidence to try bigger tasks later.
Final Thoughts
Finding outdated content in the Training Team handbook may sound like a small task, but it protects the quality of learning for everyone who uses WordPress. Every fixed link, updated screenshot, and clearer sentence makes the path easier for the next person.
If you enjoy reading carefully and want a friendly way to join the WordPress community, this project is a wonderful place to start. Open the handbook, read one page, and see if you can spot something that no longer fits. That simple act is exactly how this project moves forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Training Team handbook? It is the guide the WordPress Training Team uses to explain how the team works, how content is created and reviewed, and how new volunteers can join.
Do I need coding skills to help find outdated content? No. The team describes the task as a good starting point for new contributors, and it mainly needs careful reading and clear reporting.
Where do I report outdated content? Newer contributors can raise it in the #training channel on Slack by pinging the team admins, or submit a GitHub issue.
Can I edit the handbook myself? Experienced team members can directly edit minor and moderate changes. If you are new, the team asks you to report the issue first so it can be handled properly.
Is this project only for English speakers? The handbook work is documented in English, but the wider Training Team also supports translation work and regional groups, such as the German-language DACH team.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on public posts from the WordPress Training Team. Project plans, handbook rules, and team processes can change over time, so please check the official Training Team pages and the #training channel for the latest instructions before you start contributing. The practical tips in this guide are general suggestions, not official rules.
Usama Khan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Lopin Magazine, where he oversees the site’s biography and news coverage with a focus on accuracy and well-researched storytelling.
