Pelumi Agbolabori

Teaching Guide: Website Design Class Using WordPress

Welcome to the teaching guide for a website design class using WordPress! This guide will provide you with an outline of topics to cover, suggested activities, and resources to help you effectively teach the class.

Course Overview:
Course Title: Website Design Using WordPress
Duration: 4 weeks

Course Objectives:
Introduce students to the fundamentals of website design.
Teach students how to use WordPress as a content management system.
Enable students to design and develop functional and visually appealing websites.
Provide students with the skills to customize WordPress themes and templates.
Familiarize students with best practices for website optimization and maintenance.

Module 1: Introduction to WordPress
Introduction to WordPress as a Content management system (CMS)
Overview of WordPress features and benefits
Installing WordPress on a local server or web hosting environment
Exploring the WordPress dashboard and basic settings

Module 2: Getting Started with WordPress
Creating and managing user accounts and permissions
Understanding the difference between posts and pages
Creating and organizing site navigation menus
Setting up and managing widgets and sidebars

Module 3: WordPress Themes and Templates
Exploring WordPress themes and their structure
Installing and activating themes
Customizing themes using the WordPress Customizer
Using child themes for advanced customization

Module 4: Designing Website Layouts
Understanding the principles of responsive web design
Building pages using the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg)
Working with pre-designed page templates
Creating custom page layouts using page builders (e.g., Elementor)

Module 5: Extending Functionality with Plugins
Introduction to WordPress plugins and their role in extending functionality
Installing and activating plugins
Selecting and configuring essential plugins (e.g., SEO, contact forms, security)
Exploring popular plugins for advanced functionality

Module 6: Optimizing and Maintaining Websites
Optimizing website performance (e.g., caching, image optimization)
Implementing SEO best practices for better search engine visibility
Managing website backups and updates
Troubleshooting common WordPress issues

Module 7: Launching and Managing a WordPress Website
Setting up a domain name and web hosting
Configuring essential website settings (e.g., permalinks, privacy settings)
Publishing and managing website content
Monitoring website analytics and user behavior

Teaching Methodology:
Lectures: Provide detailed explanations of concepts and demonstrate techniques using screen sharing.
Hands-on Activities: Assign practical tasks to allow students to apply what they have learned.
Group Discussions: Encourage students to discuss challenges, share ideas, and provide feedback on each other's work.
Project Work: Assign a final project where students design and develop a complete website using WordPress.

Additional Resources:
The official WordPress website with documentation, forums, and resources.
WordPress.tv: A collection of videos on various WordPress topics, including tutorials and presentations.
WordPress Codex: A comprehensive knowledge base for WordPress developers and designers.
WordPress Themes Directory: A repository of free and premium WordPress themes.
WordPress Plugin Directory: A repository of free and premium WordPress plugins.

Assessment:
Assignments: Evaluate student performance based on completed assignments and practical exercises.
Final Project: Assess the final website project based on design, functionality, and adherence to best practices.
Class Participation: Evaluate students' engagement, participation in discussions, and contributions to group activities.