In Class 2 -Introduction to WordPress, we cover:

• Getting Help with WordPress
• Writing Content Structure and Techniques
• WordPress Post and Page Editors
• Writing with HTML
• Uploading multimedia content into posts
• Basic Tips for Blog Writing
• Finding Content
• Copyright

Homework Assignment

• Edit your previously published blog posts to meet web standards for content writing written in HTML editor.
• Write and publish 5 posts with multimedia in HTML.
• Write and publish 3 posts with blockquotes in HTML (with citations).
• Write and publish a list post.
• Create a Policy Page:
  • Add a copyright policy.
  • Go to Creative Commons and find the appropriate license and add it to your Policies Page (with Creative Commons badge/image).
• Start an article To Do List with ideas for blog posts (anywhere you want, on your blog, Google Doc, etc.). Goal: By the end of week two, you will have a minimum of 5 posts published in every category.
• Read the Reading Section material.
• Research and add to schedule:
  • Next WordPress Meetups in Portland (and elsewhere local)
  • Local WordCamps

Reading

The following are recommended reading assignments from the WordPress books in the 24×7 Book program. Please note the notes on book naming conventions and confusion in the class preparation post.

• WordPress 24-Hour Trainer
  • Lesson 6 – Adding a New Post – Overview
  • Lesson 7 – Working with the Text Editor
  • Lesson 8 – Laying Out Text (specifically Creating Lists section and Tips for Laying Out Posts (headings))
  • Section IV Lessons 11-16 – Working with Media Content
• WordPress All-In-One for Dummies
  • Book IV – Publishing Your Site With WordPress, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6.
• The 10 HTML Tags You Must Know to Blog
• Dissecting the WordPress Post Title Link – Lorelle on WordPress
• Learn WordPress.com Tutorial | one cool site
• WordPress.com beginner’s guide | one cool site
• YouTube Embed – Support – WordPress.com
• Copyright
  • What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content
  • Plagiarism, Copyright, and Fair Use
  • What is a Copyright?
  • Limitations of Copyright
  • Copyright Myths
  • How to Find Plagiarism
  • Contacting a Plagiarist
  • Copyright Protection and Defense: The Long Haul

Watching

The following are two very similar videos highlighting the people behind WordPress and how WordPress changes lives. One was done exclusively for the first WordCamp PDX and the other was done for WordCamp Hawaii and the Hawaii Technology Week event.

Extra Credit

During the class, I’ll be offering extra credit opportunities. The first one is to volunteer to answer questions and provide support on the WordPress.com Forums.

The WordPress.com Forums are managed by employees of Automattic and WordPress Community volunteers. I’ve written an article with tips on how to provide support and participate in the WordPress forums. Read “How to Help on the WordPress Support Forums” and its supporting documents before volunteering your efforts.

Please let me know if you are participating on the forum(s). I’ll need to know your WordPress username to verify. And know in advance, WordPress.com users thank you.

Outcome

For those keeping track of overall outcomes, the goals of the second class were:

• Learning the content management areas of WordPress.
• Learning the difference and how to use the Visual and HTML Editors.
• Learning how to include multimedia in a WordPress blog post.
• Basic blog writing tips with WordPress structure and format.
• Learning to write in HTML.
• Overview of WordPress help and support resources.