This document provides an introduction and overview of WordPress for a class. It outlines the goals of learning basic WordPress features and customization. It then discusses various WordPress administrative and content creation features, such as profiles, themes, widgets, pages and posts. Students are instructed to complete exercises to set up their WordPress site, such as customizing settings and creating pages and posts. The document concludes by asking students to consider how WordPress compares to previous conceptual information management systems discussed in class.

1. Studio 2WordPressIntroduction to the Digital Liberal ArtsMDST 3703 / 7703Fall 2010

2. RecapHow do computers change the properties of text?In what sense are computers textual?

3. Alan Turing’s “Universal Machine”

4. GoalsIntroduction to WordPressOverview of basic featuresGetting started with customizationDiscussion in light of SeminarThink about WordPress as a literary machineKeep Nelson’s Fantics in mind

5. WordPress2003 (6 AG)Open SourceA “personal publishing system” AKA Content Management System (CMS)

6. PlanA quick overview of WordPress’ layoutForm groupsPCs and MacsDistribute the knowledge!Specific exercises

7. Your SiteServerhttp://pages.shanti.virginia.eduResource/mdst3703_f10_rca2tDoes everyone have a site?

8. The Administration PageAdmin bar (can be disabled)HeaderLeft menuMain area

9. Admin MenuAdmin Menu

10. Important Admin StuffUsersYour ProfileSettingsGeneralWritingReadingPrivacyPermalinks

11. Exercise: Change Your ProfileGo to Users  Your ProfileCan’t change nameAdd a web site if you want toAdd some biographical info

12. Exercise: Change Site SettingsGeneral Site name, tagline, email for admin, date/time/week formatWritingEnable Atom and XML-RPCReadingNote “Front Page Displays” (we’ll come back to this)DiscussionComment settings

13. Exercise: Change Site SettingsPrivacySet to ‘I would like my blog to be visible only to registered members of this blog.’PermalinksSet Category Base to “category”Set Tag Base to “tag”

14. Exercise: Pick a ThemeThemes define the “look and feel” of your siteThey also provide different functionsConfigurabilityRegions to park things (widgets)Go to Appearance ThemesSuggestions:Constructor – highly configurable, but advancedMisty Look -- can change header (also SHANTI #1)P2 – Twitter-like, good for ideas …Tarski

15. Exercise: Add WidgetsGo to Appearance  WidgetsDrag widgets to regions on rightRegions vary by themeAdd Links, Categories, and the Tag List WidgetConfigure widgets as necessaryDrag off to removeSome themes have hard-coded widgetse.g. iNove

16. Pages and PostsThe basic units of information in WP: PagesStatic contentOrganized into a menu tree PostsDynamic contentOrganized by date, tag, and category

17. Exercise: Create a Welcome PageGo to Pages  Add NewUse the title “Welcome”Add some content and saveAlso Create a “News” page, with no contentGo to Settings  ReadingSet Front page to “Welcome”Set Posts page to “News”

18. Exercise: Create a Child PageCreate a Page called “Child” Just for demo purposesBefore saving, choose “Welcome” as its “parent”

19. Exercise: Add a Link to the Course SiteGo Links  Add NewCreate new linkView in widget

20. Exercise: Add a PostGo to Posts  Add NewCreate some content

21. Categories and TagsCategories are hierarchicalTags are rhizomicWhat kinds of things are appropriate to each?

22. CommentsComments can be turned on or off per postDefault settings can be made in the Discussion section of Settings

23. Media, Links, and PluginsTo be discussed next time …

24. How does WordPress compare to the Memex?… to Nelson’s “dream machines”?How would you describe it’s “fantics”?Connections