Topic_2

= Learning Topic 2: = = Using a CMS to Create a Website =

Background/Rationale
Publishing to the web is no longer an arduous task as it once was. With the advent of “What you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) editors, website creation is no longer only for those adept at coding and programming. During this Learning Topic, you will explore how educators can use open source software to quickly and efficiently create a website. Using WordPress.com and the WordPress open source software, you will create the skeletal framework of your Capstone ePortfolio website for this Instructional Technology masters program. Though WordPress is often associated as a blogging platform, its open source nature has allowed it to become a viable and powerful CMS (content management system). It is important to understand that web publishing is now within the reach of the everyday Internet user. Using a free CMS such as WordPress allows those with emerging technology skills to create, organize, publish, and manage web content like the pros.

Learner Outcomes:
At the end of this Learning Topic, you will be able to:
 * Examine and assess educational websites made with WordPress to determine the platform’s potential for web publishing.
 * Identify key traits, characteristics, or components of a CMS and compare them to other web publishing tools.
 * Create a WordPress website with a clear navigation bar, multiple pages, subpages, working hyperlinks, and a sidebar.
 * Identify the similarities and differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
 * Discover and share applicable widgets for use in the Capstone ePortfolio sidebar.
 * Create analogies or various WordPress concepts/terms to indicate understanding of new concepts.

Readings and Research:
Some of the reading can be accessed through Books24x7. //Instructions are available on the home page.//
 * Campbell, D. (2008, July 28). Why Use WordPress to Power Your Small Business Website? Expand 2 Web. Business website. Retrieved December 9, 2009 from @http://www.expand2web.com/blog/why-use-wordpress-to-power-your-small-business-website/
 * Campbell, D. (2008, July 31). WordPress.org vs WordPress.com – Which One Should I Use? Expand 2 Web. Business website. Retrieved December 9, 2009, from @http://www.expand2web.com/blog/wordpressorg-vs-wordpresscom-which-one-should-i-use/
 * Hayder, H., & Silver, A. H. (2009). WordPress 2.7 Complete. Packt Publishing. Read chapters 1 and 2 (up to but not including “Installing WordPress Manually”). Available for Regis students via Books24x7.
 * Mehta, N. (2009). Choosing an Open Source CMS: Beginner's Guide. Packt Publishing. Read chapters 1 and 2. Available for Regis students via Books24x7
 * Sabin-Wilson, L. (2009). WordPress For Dummies (For Dummies (2nd ed.). For Dummies. Read chapters 1 and 3. Available for Regis students via Books24x7
 * The Autopsy Of WordPress As CMS With 25 Great WP Plugins & Designs. (2009, July 17). Onextrapixel. Retrieved December 10, 2009, from @http://www.onextrapixel.com/2009/07/17/the-autopsy-of-wordpress-as-cms-with-25-great-wp-plugins-designs/

2.1: Virtual Field Experience
Realizing the power of WordPress (WP) Being able to actually see a WordPress (WP) end product is often very influential on those who have never considered using this tool before. //**This assignment will be very helpful when creating your ePortfolio.**//


 * Step 1:** Visit the We Love WP-Education Gallery at @http://welovewp.com/category/education-gallery Tour several of these educational sites, each of which has been made with WordPress.


 * Step 2:** In your field experience log, respond to the following:
 * Share what your initial reactions were when looking at these sites.
 * Additionally, pay attention to specific features that catch your eye.
 * What were these features?
 * Do these sites look more or less professional and sophisticated than the typical website made by educators?

2.2: Discussion - Typical Traits or Characteristics of a CMS
Understanding what differentiates a content management system (CMS) from other web publishing tools will allow students to see that there are many ways to create websites. By understanding what a CMS is capable of doing; educators can better decide whether such a tool is needed for their educational publishing needs.


 * Step 1:** Read the articles provided for this Learning Topic. As you read, identify and take summary notes.
 * Campbell, D. (2008, July 28). Why Use WordPress to Power Your Small Business Website? Expand 2 Web. Business website. Retrieved December 9, 2009 from @http://www.expand2web.com/blog/why-use-wordpress-to-power-your-small-business-website/
 * Campbell, D. (2008, July 31). WordPress.org vs WordPress.com – Which One Should I Use? Expand 2 Web. Business website. Retrieved December 9, 2009, from @http://www.expand2web.com/blog/wordpressorg-vs-wordpresscom-which-one-should-i-use/
 * Hayder, H., & Silver, A. H. (2009). WordPress 2.7 Complete. Packt Publishing. Read chapters 1 and 2 (up to but not including “Installing WordPress Manually”). Available for Regis students via Books24x7.
 * Mehta, N. (2009). Choosing an Open Source CMS: Beginner's Guide. Packt Publishing. Read chapters 1 and 2. Available for Regis students via Books24x7
 * Sabin-Wilson, L. (2009). WordPress For Dummies (For Dummies (2nd ed.). For Dummies. Read chapters 1 and 3. Available for Regis students via Books24x7
 * The Autopsy Of WordPress As CMS With 25 Great WP Plugins & Designs. (2009, July 17). Onextrapixel. Retrieved December 10, 2009, from @http://www.onextrapixel.com/2009/07/17/the-autopsy-of-wordpress-as-cms-with-25-great-wp-plugins-designs/


 * Step 2**: In-class discussion:
 * What are the typical traits or characteristics of a CMS?
 * Which of those traits or characteristics would be important or helpful in an educational setting?
 * List the names of several CMSs.
 * Are any specifically geared to the educational setting?
 * Which of the plugins listed in the readings should be definitely considered for an educational site?

All discussions will use the Discussion Rubric Chart for evaluation.
 * Assessment**

2.3: Capstone ePortfolio
Creating an authentic project is often the best way to learn a new tool and associated concepts. Using WordPress.com, students will learn how to set up the skeletal framework for their Capstone ePortfolio. Students will learn how to create a clear navigation bar, multiple pages, and subpages. Additionally, students will learn how to hyperlink pages and subpages within the ePortfolio.
 * Create a Capstone ePortfolio Using WordPress (website 1)**

Throughout your Instructional Technology (IT) master’s coursework, you have been collecting and saving artifacts, research, and reflective pieces that will be used in creation of your Capstone ePortfolio. The purpose of the ePortfolio is to demonstrate the depth and breadth of your educational growth through your Master’s program, including skills and knowledge gained along with your growth as a reflective practitioner. The ePortfolio should be considered a professional document to be shared with potential employers.

In this Web Development course you will create a website that will serve as your Capstone ePortfolio. You will not be completing the full Capstone ePortfolio in this course but rather will get a start on the ePortfolio. To complete the ePortfolio template you will be using WordPress.com.

The components required for the ePortfolio template and steps for creation can be found on the Capstone_Requirements page. Once the skeletal structure of the ePortfolio is established, submit your ePortfolio’s URL (Uniform Resource Locator—this is your website address that appears in your browser’s navigation bar beginning with “http:”) to the Topic_2_Student_Page.
 * Instructions:**


 * Assessment**

2.4 Email Response - Looking at WordPress for Educational Uses
Many people consider WordPress to be only a blogging platform, though it is actually very capable of creating full-on websites. Understanding the capabilities and features of WordPress makes it a viable option for educators with busy schedules and emerging technology skills.


 * Step 1:** Identify the similarities and differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Refer to assigned readings and other independent web searches to create the following:

Additionally, your colleague wonders what the difference is between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. What would you tell her?
 * Step 2:** Using a conversational tone, create an email response to a colleague who has just asked whether she should use WordPress to create a classroom website.
 * 1) Does each of these options provide hosting services?
 * 2) What are the publishing capabilities provided by each?
 * 3) What associated cost is involved with each?
 * 4) Also, explain what overall advantages there are to using WordPress as a publishing platform (either .com or .org).
 * 5) Are there disadvantages to consider, knowing that this will be used in an educational setting?


 * Step 3:** Post your email response in the Discussion section on Topic_2_Student_Page. Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues’ email responses.


 * Assessment**

2.5: Discussion: Sidebar and Widgets for the Capstone ePortfolio
In this discussion activity, exchange information about WordPress.com widgets after viewing various video tutorials. The most applicable widgets can then be discovered and shared among students for use in the Capstone ePortfolio. The following URL for WordPress TV also provides valuable tutorials on inserting images, videos, and more into ePortfolios. Another link to use for clarification of plugins and widgets: Plugin/Widget definition site []


 * Step 1**: View any three video tutorials on various sidebar widgets available at WordPress.com. Videos may be found at @http://wordpress.tv/?s=wordpress.com or view the Wordpress Widget Support site @http://en.support.wordpress.com/widgets/
 * Which widget did you find to be interesting?
 * Which Widgets are "cool" but could also be distracting?
 * Which widgets might be appropriate for use in the Capstone ePortfolio sidebar? You are encouraged to select at least two to three widgets for insertion into your Capstone ePortfolio sidebar.

All discussions will use the Discussion Rubric Chart for evaluation.
 * Assessment**

2.6: WordPress Analogies – WordPress Terminology Explained through Analogies
Check your understanding of new concepts by creating analogies for various terms used in this Learning Topic. These analogies will help you better grasp the true meaning of terms based on these comparisons.
 * //Formative Assessment: A Check for Understanding//**

An example would be:
 * Step 1:** Using readings assigned for this Learning Topic, create analogies for any four (4) of the following WordPress concepts/terms (listed below). Additionally, you may refer to instructional videos found at @http://wordpress.tv/flavor/wordpresscom/ as well as the online glossary found at @http://www.dailyblogtips.com/the-bloggers-glossary/
 * ====WordPress Term ==== || ====Analogy ==== ||
 * **WordPress plugins** || **WordPress plugins are like vacuum cleaner attachments.** A vacuum without attachments is only able to clean a flat floor or carpet. With attachments it can clean drapes, baseboards, stairs, hard-to-read areas and more. Likewise, plugins help WP users modify this open source software so that more end results are possible. Plugins can be quickly installed or “attached” to the main WP program so that the user can make it a more powerful, efficient and extendable tool for website creation and management. ||
 * WordPress dashboard
 * WordPress themes
 * WordPress widgets
 * PHP
 * MySQL database
 * post
 * page
 * static content
 * dynamic content


 * Step 2:** Post your analogies to the chart found on Topic_2_Student_Page. Create your analogies first in a word processing program then cut and paste them into the chart.


 * Assessment**

Homework

 * 1) **2.1 Virtual Field Experience – Realizing the Power of WordPress** Complete this in your field experience log. // (Suggested completion by the start of Class Session3.) //
 * 2) **2.3 Create a Capstone ePortfolio using WordPress** Once the skeletal structure of the ePortfolio is established, submit your ePortfolio’s URL to the Topic_2_Student_Page.// (Due the Friday following Class Session3) //
 * 3) Be familiar with the **Required Readings for Topic 3** by the start of Class Session3.
 * 4) **3.1 Field Experience – Identifying a Quality Website** Post your responses to the Topic_3_Student_Page for this activity. // (Suggested completion by the start of Class Session4.) //