Week+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. 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** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> **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. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> Step 1: Visit the We Love WP-Education Gallery at <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[] . 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. <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 71.45pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Share what your initial reactions were when looking at these sites. <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 71.45pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Additionally, pay attention to specific features that catch your eye. <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 71.45pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · What were these features? <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 71.45pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · Do these sites look more or less professional and sophisticated than the typical website made by educators? <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">Step 3: Post your observations in the Discussion Forum for this activity. Read and respond to one or more of your colleagues.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; padding: 0px;">**Assessment** Use the Regis general discussion rubric: Student actively and thoughtfully participated in the discussion. Student was respectful of classmates’ points of view.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> **Activity 2: Discussion 1 - Typical Traits or Characteristics of a CMS** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> 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. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> Step 1: Read the articles provided for this Learning Topic. As you read, identify and take summary notes. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> 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? <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> Step 3: Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues’ findings. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> **Assessment** Use the Regis general discussion rubric: Student actively and thoughtfully participated in the discussion. Student was respectful of classmates’ points of view.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> **Activity 3: Discussion – Capstone ePortfolio** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> **Project 1 - Create a Capstone ePortfolio Using WordPress (website 1)** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> 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. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;"> 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.//** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Assessment**


 * ** Capstone Portfolio ** || ** 1 absent •••••••••••••••••• 5 advanced ** ||
 * The two column template chosen uses a clear top navigation bar, utilizes a custom header, and uses a sidebar (content of sidebar need not be evaluated at this point). ||  ||
 * Top navigation pages are in the order specified. ||  ||
 * All designated parent pages (5) and sub (children) pages are present and work appropriately. ||  ||
 * Each sub (child) page ends with a hyperlink to take the user back to Program of Study page. ||  ||
 * General instructions for what to do on each page have been added. ||  ||

@http://capstoneexample.wordpress.com/
 * Example:**

Instructional Videos: [|Movie tutorial 1 – Overview of Capstone Portfolio] [|Movie tutorial 2 – Creating a blog/website in WordPress] [|Movie tutorial 3 – Creating pages for your website] [|Movie tutorial 4 – Choosing a theme] [|Movie tutorial 5 – Creating content for the Program of Study page] [|Movie tutorial 6a – Making children pages under the Program of Study] [|Movie tutorial 6b – Content for the children pages] [|Movie tutorial 7 – Creating links to children pages from Program of Study] [|Movie tutorial 8 – Closing comments]

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Activity 4: Discussion – Email Response** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Project 2 – Looking at WordPress for Educational Uses** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">Identify the similarities and differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Refer to assigned readings and other independent web searches to create the following: <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">Step 1: Using a conversational tone, <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 1. Create an email response to a colleague who has just asked whether she should use WordPress to create a classroom website. <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 2. Additionally, your colleague wonders what the difference is between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. What would you tell her? <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 3. Does each of these options provide hosting services? <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 4. What are the publishing capabilities provided by each? <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 5. What associated cost is involved with each? <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 6. Also, explain what overall advantages there are to using WordPress as a publishing platform (either .com or .org). <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0.75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> 7. Are there disadvantages to consider, knowing that this will be used in an educational setting?

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Assessment**


 * ** Email Response ** || ** 1 absent ---5 **** advanced ** ||
 * Email response contains a general overview of what WordPress is - what it is capable of creating and doing for the inquiring educator. ||  ||
 * Email response clearly conveys the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Issues including hosting, publishing capabilities and cost have been covered. ||  ||
 * Email examines the disadvantages of using this publishing platform in the educational setting. ||  ||
 * Email communication is well-written, logical and clear. Tone is friendly and not condescending. Those with emerging technology skills can easily understand the major ideas presented. Email is void of technical jargon that might confuse the recipient. ||  ||

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Activity 5: Discussion 2 - Idea Exchange** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Sidebar and Widgets for the Capstone ePortfolio** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[] . You are encouraged to select at least two to three widgets for insertion into your Capstone ePortfolio sidebar. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">Step 2: Post your findings in the Discussion Forum for this activity. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Assessment** Use the Regis general discussion rubric: Student actively and thoughtfully participated in the discussion. Student was respectful of classmates’ points of view.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Activity 6: Discussion - WordPress Analogies** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">**Project 3 - Formative Assessment: A Check for Understanding – WordPress Terminology Explained through Analogies** <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">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 below. You may use the graphic organizer provided or create your own. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">Additionally, you may refer to instructional videos found at <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[] <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; padding-right: 10px; text-decoration: none;">[|as well as the online glossary found at][] . <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · WordPress dashboard <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · WordPress themes <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · WordPress widgets <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · PHP <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · MySQL database <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · post <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · page <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · static content <span style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> · dynamic content

|| ** 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 Term ** || ** Analogy ** ||
 * ** Example: ** **WordPress plugins**
 * 1.
 * 2. ||   ||
 * 3.
 * 4.

<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5pt;">Step 2: Post your analogies to the Discussion Forum for this activity. Read and respond to two or more of your colleagues.

**Assessment** Analogy is appropriate for term chosen. Similarities have been explained clearly and have demonstrated a deeper understanding of this concept. ||  || Analogy is appropriate for term chosen. Similarities have been explained clearly and have demonstrated a deeper understanding of this concept. ||  || Analogy is appropriate for term chosen. Similarities have been explained clearly and have demonstrated a deeper understanding of this concept. ||  || Analogy is appropriate for term chosen. Similarities have been explained clearly and have demonstrated a deeper understanding of this concept. ||  ||
 * ** WordPress Analogies ** || ** 1 absent --- 5 advanced ** ||
 * Term 1 -
 * Term 2 -
 * Term 3 -
 * Term 4 -