Unit+2

**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.
 * Learning Topic 2: Using a CMS to Create a Website**

**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. (Virtual Field Experience) · Identify key traits, characteristics, or components of a CMS and compare them to other web publishing tools. (Discussion 1) · Create a WordPress website with a clear navigation bar, multiple pages, subpages, working hyperlinks, and a sidebar. (Project 1) · Identify the similarities and differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. (Project 2) · Discover and share applicable widgets for use in the Capstone ePortfolio sidebar. (Discussion 2) · Create analogies or various WordPress concepts/terms to indicate understanding of new concepts. (Project 3)

**Readings and Research:** Campbell, D. (2008, July 28). Why Use WordPress to Power Your Small Business Website? Expand 2 Web. Business website. Retrieved December 9, 2009 from []  [|.] 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 []  [|.] 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. **NOTE: See instructions on accessing Books24x7 in the syllabus Required Course Materials section.** 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 []  .  **Learning Activities:**  **Activity 1: Discussion - 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.  Step 1: Visit the We Love WP-Education Gallery at []  . 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? Step 3: Post your observations in the Discussion Forum for this activity. Read and respond to one or more of your colleagues. **Activity 2: Discussion 1 - 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. Step 2: In the Discussion Forum for this activity, post the typical traits or characteristics of a CMS. Be sure to cite your sources. Additionally, list the names of several CMSs. Are any specifically geared to the educational setting? Step 3: Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues’ findings. **Assessment** Refer to the Discussion Checklist in the Course Resources folder for more information on how you will be evaluated.

**Activity 3: Discussion – Capstone ePortfolio** **Project 1 - Create a Capstone ePortfolio Using WordPress (website 1)** 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. 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.//** Instructions: The components required for the ePortfolio template and steps for creation can be found in the linked document Using WordPress to Create Your Capstone ePortfolio. 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 facilitator, as directed.// // **Assessment** // // See the  Capstone ePortfolio Checklist   //

// **Activity 4: Discussion – Email Response** // // **Project 2 – 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. // // Identify the similarities and differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Refer to assigned readings and other independent web searches to create the following: // // Step 1: Using a conversational tone, // // 1. Create an email response to a colleague who has just asked whether she should use WordPress to create a classroom website. // // 2. Additionally, your colleague wonders what the difference is between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. What would you tell her? // // 3. Does each of these options provide hosting services? // // 4. What are the publishing capabilities provided by each? // // 5. What associated cost is involved with each? // // 6. Also, explain what overall advantages there are to using WordPress as a publishing platform (either .com or .org). // // 7. Are there disadvantages to consider, knowing that this will be used in an educational setting? // // Step 2: Post your email response in the Discussion Forum for this activity. Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues’ email responses. // // **Assessment** // // See the  Email Response Checklist   //

// **Activity 5: Discussion 2 - Idea Exchange** // // **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. // // Step 1: View any three video tutorials on various sidebar widgets available at WordPress.com. Post which widgets might be appropriate for use in the Capstone ePortfolio sidebar. Videos may be found at [] // // . You are encouraged to select at least two to three widgets for insertion into your Capstone ePortfolio sidebar. // // Step 2: Post your findings in the Discussion Forum for this activity. // // **Assessment** // // Refer to the Discussion Checklist in the Course Resources folder for more information on how you will be evaluated. //

// **Activity 6: Discussion - WordPress Analogies** // // **Project 3 - Formative Assessment: A Check for Understanding – 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. // // Step 1: Using readings assigned for this Learning Topic, create analogies for any four (4) of the following WordPress concepts/terms (listed below). An example graphic organizer is provided in the Course Resources folder titled WordPress Terms. You may use the graphic organizer provided or create your own. // // Additionally, you may refer to instructional videos found at [] // // [| as well as the online glossary found at] [] // // . // // · WordPress dashboard  // // · WordPress themes  // // · WordPress widgets  // // · PHP  // // · MySQL database  // // · post  // // · page  // // · static content  // // · dynamic content  // // Step 2: Post your analogies to the Discussion Forum for this activity. Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues. // // **Assessment** // // See the  WordPress Analogies Checklist   //