Welcome to the second “Introduction to WordPress” class at Clark College this spring, the second ever in the world. The first course was a resounding success with no students failing nor dropping the class. Amazing. You can read more about it

Introduction to WordPress is focused on the core features and functionality of WordPress right out of the box – specifically out of the WordPress.com box. We’ll explore the full features of WordPress and WordPress.com and concentrate on content building and strategies. The extra features that come with free WordPress.com blogs are based upon popular WordPress Themes and Plugins, giving us experience using the extensible and customization features available for the self-hosted version of WordPress.

If time allows, we’ll work our way towards some basic WordPress development, planning website layouts and content support for a variety of business needs.

I’ve summed up most of what you will learn in this Introduction to WordPress course in WordPress Credit Course at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington.

You will learn:

• What is WordPress?
• How to setup a WordPress.com blog.
• Categories, tags, and content organization and navigation.
• Web publishing with the visual editor, HTML editor, QuickPress/PressThis, mobile, and alternative publishing tools.
• Publishing multimedia with WordPress.
• Content development and management.
• Introduction to basic core site customization (header art, widgets, etc.).
• Introduction to dynamic web page generation.
• Introduction to dynamic web design.
• Introduction to WordPress Themes.
• How to use Post Format Types.
• Comments and spam management.
• Multiple users and authors (permissions/authorities).
• Managing multiple contributors.
• Basic analytics and statistics with WordPress.com Stats.
• WordPress and SEO.
• Introduction to WordPress hybrid sites.
• How to create and manage custom menus.
• WordPress Widget functionality and customization.
• Understanding WordPress interactivity through trackbacks, pingbacks, and pings.
• WordPress feed management, integration, and customization.
• Integration of social media to and from WordPress.
• Managing a private or restricted access WordPress site.
• Introduction to WordPress Plugins.
• WordPress installation options.
• Troubleshooting WordPress.
• Introduction to WordPress development for employers and clients.

The program is fairly flexible based upon student abilities and learning process. We will explained into more technical aspects in WordPress as much as time permits.

The class requires are competency with computers and web browsers, as well as basic writing skills. See Class Requirements below for details. It is highly recommended that you have HTML Fundamentals and Introduction to PHP if you wish to pursue WordPress towards a career. Check with Clark College’s course catalog and counselors for more information on the various programs you will need for a WordPress and web practitioner degree program.

Be ready to:

• Create your own blog.
• Have something to say and share on your blog, enough for ten weeks.
• Use social media networks (Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, and Google+).
• Interact with fellow students.
• Interact with fellow bloggers.

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