CTEC 280 How to start a WordPress.com site from Lorelle VanFossen on Vimeo.
This video contains instructions and screencasts for registering for a WordPress.com blog. It includes tips for new users and already registered users.
We will be starting with a WordPress.com blog whether or not you have another WordPress site.
Trust me. You will be making mistakes, experimenting, messing things up. The class also needs to be all working on the same thing for the first few weeks of the class – no arguments. Once you learn how this all works, you can go mess up your own site at will. 
Here is what you need to know about creating your WordPress.com site:
- Create a temporary blog domain name such as myclassblog1234.wordpress.com or myname987.wordpress.com. You will NOT change this. Pick right the first time.
- Even if you have a WordPress site, you will only use the above WordPress.com site for homework and class assignments. You may transfer content over to your site later.
- You will choose the Twenty-eleven WordPress Theme. Everyone will be using it for the first few weeks of the class.
- Homework assignments are to be stored in the “Class Assignments” parent category.
- While you can publish whatever you want on your blog, it is recommended you publish your homework and work with content related to the site’s intent.
- The Privacy Settings for the site must be set to visible and “Ask search engines NOT to index this site.”
- During the class, Clark College teachers and the students in this class will be reading the blog, therefore your content must be work/family appropriate during the course.
- Homework assignments may be copied and used for future classes by the teacher and college.
- Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Homework assignments are not to be copied and published publicly on your blog.
- It is your responsibility to keep the blog maintained or delete it no sooner than 6 weeks after the class grades are posted.
For information on installing the self-hosted version of WordPress, see Installing WordPress on the WordPress Codex.
For more information on using WordPress, check out:
For the final project, the WordPress Introduction class at Clark College was divided into teams to create a small business site on WordPress.com. This gave the students a chance to put into practice what they learned and find creativity within the limitations of WordPress.com. The small business sites are hypothetical, giving them a chance to use their skills in web design, content strategies, and WordPress to serve a variety of business “clients.” The business types were chosen from lists of the top 500 most popular small businesses in the United States representing potential future clients.
It’s time for a midway point warning for the Clark College Introduction to WordPress class. I’m checking out your sites this weekend and leaving comments. The number one comment I want to leave is “It’s been two weeks since your last post. It’s time to catch up with the homework!”
