Introduction to WordpressCity Lab @ CWE

Dr. Karen Gregory Fall 2014

Agenda

• What type of site would you like to create? Class site? Personal site? Portfolio?

• Create a site and sign up for Wordpress, write down your log in

• Settings• Design Basics and Themes• Pages (Adding Media)• Posts• Categories• Menus• Q & A

Using Wordpress in a Class

• As a course site: Set up basic site to provide course materials

• As a course blog: Students learn the basics of WP and begin to post writing.

• As a portfolio: Curating work, media, embedding media

• As a collaborative website: Final project for Unseen New York

http://wordpress.com

Sign up, check email

Set Visibility

Create Free Blog

Set Permissions

Settings

Check Blog Theme

Tour the Dashboard

Adjust Site Theme

Explore Themes (Note Free Category)

Things to consider when designing

• Overall appearance and layout• How will the site be used? • Who will use the site?• Does the theme host a customizable header?• Does the theme host a menu? Themes can be changed at any time without losing content. See details: Click Theme DetailsTo choose: Click Activate

Customize

Quick Way to Set Basic Design

Set Appearance (then check site)

You now have a basic site…

• You want to add content. Pages or Posts? • Pages are intended for static content (for example, an

“About Page”) • Posts are intended for a continual flow of information,

like a blog. They will update chronologically. • Let’s create a page: “About X” • Your theme may already come with a page, you can

edit or delete. • Go into Dashboard: Pages: All Pages

Pages: All Pages: Create or Edit a Page

Add Media (Images, PDF)

Add Media (Select Files)

Select Files, Title, and Size

Insert Into Page

Submit, Discussion, Shares

Create and Edit a Post

Creating Categories

Category

• Once you’ve created a category, you will see this label (on the right) as a clickable option each time you create a page or post.

• Categories will organize, by theme or key word, the content of your site.

Home Page: Pages or Posts?

• Now that you have some content, you will have to set your home page (what visitors will see when they arrive at your site.)

• Go to Settings: Readings to decide if your home page is a “Page” or “Your Latest Posts”

Creating a Menu