diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
index 7e3af1dd88..213c3d1b31 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_views.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ class ViewsTestCase(TestCase):
         url = reverse('submission_history', kwargs={
             'course_id': self.course_key.to_deprecated_string(),
             'student_username': 'dummy',
-            'location': unicode(self.component.location)
+            'location': self.component.location.to_deprecated_string(),
         })
         response = self.client.get(url)
         # Tests that we do not get an "Invalid x" response when passing correct arguments to view
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py
index 7392b21136..5fc16f7bb7 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views.py
@@ -740,7 +740,7 @@ def submission_history(request, course_id, student_username, location):
         return HttpResponse(escape(_(u'Invalid course id.')))
 
     try:
-        usage_key = UsageKey.from_string(location)
+        usage_key = course_key.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(location)
     except (InvalidKeyError, AssertionError):
         return HttpResponse(escape(_(u'Invalid location.')))
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
index e052ea13ed..1a3ea1e377 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class TestInstructorAPIDenyLevels(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
             self.course.id,
             'robot-some-problem-urlname'
         )
-        self.problem_urlname = str(self.problem_location)
+        self.problem_urlname = self.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
         _module = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.user,
             course_id=self.course.id,
@@ -1489,7 +1489,7 @@ class TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase)
             self.course.id,
             'robot-some-problem-urlname'
         )
-        self.problem_urlname = str(self.problem_location)
+        self.problem_urlname = self.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
 
         self.module_to_reset = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.student,
@@ -1749,7 +1749,7 @@ class TestInstructorAPITaskLists(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
             self.course.id,
             'robot-some-problem-urlname'
         )
-        self.problem_urlname = str(self.problem_location)
+        self.problem_urlname = self.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
 
         self.module = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.student,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_reset.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_reset.py
index 9e207306e1..9a7112ed0f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_reset.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_reset.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class InstructorResetStudentStateTest(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCa
         response = self.client.post(url, {
             'action': 'Delete student state for module',
             'unique_student_identifier': self.student.email,
-            'problem_for_student': str(problem_location),
+            'problem_for_student': problem_location.to_deprecated_string(),
         })
 
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
index 88c2d734ee..0d67a6a1bd 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/api.py
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ from .tools import (
 )
 from xmodule.modulestore import Location
 from xmodule.modulestore.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
-from xmodule.modulestore.keys import UsageKey
 from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -768,7 +767,7 @@ def reset_student_attempts(request, course_id):
             return HttpResponseForbidden("Requires instructor access.")
 
     try:
-        module_state_key = UsageKey.from_string(problem_to_reset)
+        module_state_key = course_id.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_to_reset)
     except InvalidKeyError:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest()
 
@@ -830,7 +829,7 @@ def rescore_problem(request, course_id):
         )
 
     try:
-        module_state_key = UsageKey.from_string(problem_to_reset)
+        module_state_key = course_id.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_to_reset)
     except InvalidKeyError:
         return HttpResponseBadRequest("Unable to parse problem id")
 
@@ -933,7 +932,7 @@ def list_instructor_tasks(request, course_id):
 
     if problem_location_str:
         try:
-            module_state_key = UsageKey.from_string(problem_location_str)
+            module_state_key = course_id.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_location_str)
         except InvalidKeyError:
             return HttpResponseBadRequest()
         if student:
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
index 87016d8442..933f3e4d67 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/legacy.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
 from xmodule.modulestore.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
 from xmodule.modulestore.exceptions import ItemNotFoundError
 from xmodule.html_module import HtmlDescriptor
-from xmodule.modulestore.keys import UsageKey
 from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 from lms.lib.xblock.runtime import quote_slashes
 
@@ -265,7 +264,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
     elif "Rescore ALL students' problem submissions" in action:
         problem_location_str = strip_if_string(request.POST.get('problem_for_all_students', ''))
         try:
-            problem_location = UsageKey.from_string(problem_location_str)
+            problem_location = course_key.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_location_str)
             instructor_task = submit_rescore_problem_for_all_students(request, problem_location)
             if instructor_task is None:
                 msg += '<font color="red">{text}</font>'.format(
@@ -301,7 +300,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
     elif "Reset ALL students' attempts" in action:
         problem_location_str = strip_if_string(request.POST.get('problem_for_all_students', ''))
         try:
-            problem_location = UsageKey.from_string(problem_location_str)
+            problem_location = course_key.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_location_str)
             instructor_task = submit_reset_problem_attempts_for_all_students(request, problem_location)
             if instructor_task is None:
                 msg += '<font color="red">{text}</font>'.format(
@@ -341,7 +340,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
         else:
             problem_location_str = strip_if_string(request.POST.get('problem_for_student', ''))
             try:
-                problem_location = UsageKey.from_string(problem_location_str)
+                problem_location = course_key.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_location_str)
             except InvalidKeyError:
                 msg += '<font color="red">{text}</font>'.format(
                     text=_('Could not find problem location "{url}".').format(
@@ -355,7 +354,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
     elif "Show Background Task History" in action:
         problem_location = strip_if_string(request.POST.get('problem_for_all_students', ''))
         try:
-            problem_location = UsageKey.from_string(problem_location_str)
+            problem_location = course_key.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_location_str)
         except InvalidKeyError:
             msg += '<font color="red">{text}</font>'.format(
                 text=_('Could not find problem location "{url}".').format(
@@ -375,7 +374,7 @@ def instructor_dashboard(request, course_id):
         )
         problem_location_str = strip_if_string(request.POST.get('problem_for_student', ''))
         try:
-            module_state_key = UsageKey.from_string(problem_location_str)
+            module_state_key = course_key.make_usage_key_from_deprecated_string(problem_location_str)
         except InvalidKeyError:
             msg += '<font color="red">{text}</font>'.format(
                 text=_('Could not find problem location "{url}".').format(
diff --git a/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html b/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html
index d3d7fca026..1d4f39feba 100644
--- a/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html
+++ b/lms/templates/courseware/instructor_dashboard.html
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ function goto( mode)
     </p>
     <p>
       ${_("You should provide the full location of a problem. A location will look like this: {location}").format(
-      location="<tt>location:edX+Open_DemoX+problem+78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
+      location="<tt>i4x://edX/Open_DemoX/problem/78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
       }
     </p>
     <p>
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ function goto( mode)
     </p>
     <p>
       ${_("You should provide the full location of a problem. A location will look like this: {location}").format(
-      location="<tt>location:edX+Open_DemoX+problem+78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
+      location="<tt>i4x://edX/Open_DemoX/problem/78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
       }
     </p>
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html
index 7376634cf1..728ea543d2 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
 
   <p>
     ${_("You should provide the full location of a problem. A location will look like this: {location}").format(
-    location="<tt>location:edX+Open_DemoX+problem+78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
+    location="<tt>i4x://edX/Open_DemoX/problem/78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
     }
   </p>
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
     </p>
     <p>
       ${_("You should provide the full location of a problem. A location will look like this: {location}").format(
-      location="<tt>location:edX+Open_DemoX+problem+78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
+      location="<tt>i4x://edX/Open_DemoX/problem/78c98390884243b89f6023745231c525</tt>")
       }
     </p>
     <p>
diff --git a/lms/templates/staff_problem_info.html b/lms/templates/staff_problem_info.html
index da286ced90..d9a170089c 100644
--- a/lms/templates/staff_problem_info.html
+++ b/lms/templates/staff_problem_info.html
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ ${block_content}
         <label for="sd_fu_${location.name}">${_('Username')}:</label>
         <input type="text" id="sd_fu_${location.name}" placeholder="${user.username}"/>
       </div>
-      <div data-location="${unicode(location)}" data-location-name="${location.name}">
+      <div data-location="${location.to_deprecated_string()}" data-location-name="${location.name}">
         [
         <a href="#" id="staff-debug-reset" class="staff-debug-reset">${_('Reset Student Attempts')}</a>
         |
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ ${block_content}
 
     <div class="staff_info" style="display:block">
 is_released = ${is_released}
-location = ${location | h}
+location = ${location.to_deprecated_string() | h}
 <table summary="${_('Module Fields')}">
   <tr><th>${_('Module Fields')}</th></tr>
   %for name, field in fields:
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ category = ${category | h}
     <form id="${element_id}_history_form">
       <label for="${element_id}_history_student_username">${_("User:")}</label>
       <input id="${element_id}_history_student_username" type="text" placeholder=""/>
-      <input type="hidden" id="${element_id}_history_location" value="${location}"/>
+      <input type="hidden" id="${element_id}_history_location" value="${location.to_deprecated_string()}"/>
       <div class="submit">
         <button name="submit" type="submit">${_("View History")}</button>
       </div>