Tag Archives: teaching wordpress

Homework: Introduction to WordPress Class 5- Interactivity and WordPress

Posted on by
2

In Class 5 of Introduction to WordPress, we cover:

  • Introduction to how to comment on WordPress.
  • Overview of Comment Spam and introduction to Akismet WordPress Plugin.
  • How to monitor, manage, and edit comments in WordPress.
  • Introduction to creating a Comments Policy.
  • Introduction to security and privacy concerns within WordPress.

Homework Assignment

  • Profile updated and accurate, and display name set to be “human.”
  • Write a blog post about one of your fellow student’s blog posts to create a trackback.
  • Comment on blogs everywhere, especially fellow students. See if you can get them to come to your site and comment.
  • Add a Comments Policy to your Policies.

Continue reading →

What Do Students Want to Learn About WordPress

Posted on by
Reply

On the first night of class I asked the students of Clark College’s first Introduction to WordPress class to explain why they were there and what they wanted out of the class. Here is that list.

  • How to make my site “mine”
  • How to design
  • How to fix the CSS
  • How to maximize SEO
  • How to publish and edit (resize) photographs
  • Understand basic HTML and CSS
  • Learn about analytics and tracking traffic
  • Understand how WordPress works and underlying technologies
  • Understand how to handle permissions and multiple users
  • Understand more about Open Source, licensing, and GPL
  • How to handle multiple contributors and authors
  • How to publish on the web
  • How to integrate social media
  • How to migrate from one site to another (import/export)
  • How to re-brand a site and make it fresh and new
  • How to handle spammers and nastiness on the web
  • How to create good content.
  • How to make the page and content easy to read
  • How to monetize my site.

As with everyone WordPress touches, it boils down to:

  • Web Design
  • User Experience
  • Content Management
  • Content Publishing
  • Social Media, Marketing and Advertising

Introduction to WordPress Class 1: Getting Started

Posted on by
1

Wall clock with wood frame

A clock on the wall

In Class 1 of Introduction to WordPress, we will cover:

  • What is WordPress
  • Basic Semantics/Glossary/Terms
  • Create a WordPress.com blog
  • Categories and Tags to organize content navigation
  • Blog Title and Tagline
  • Introduction to Basic Content Formats: Posts and Pages

You will create your test blog during the class, add a Page and a Post, set up your profile, and start thinking about what you are going to publish on your blog during this course.

It is important that you choose a topic on which you have something to say in addition to the topics and assignments covered in class. We will all be reading your blog and looking for thoughtful content, so be ready.

A well designed and structured site is built around content. I call it “content with intent.” You cannot make framework or design decisions without understanding your content, audience, and specific needs that support that content. So we start with content and build from there.

Homework Assignment

  • Group brainstorm words into categories (no more than 7)
    • Title the categories
    • Write 3 blog posts minimum, one per category
  • Complete your About Page
  • Create a Contact Page
  • Complete your Profile
    • Set your Gravatar
  • Create or find 5 copyright free photographs, graphics or images and bring them to class on a thumb drive/flash stick.
  • Find 3 YouTube videos and bring the links to their pages to the class.
  • Read the material in the Reading Section.

Reading