WMADD 4835 | Content Management Systems |
Credits: 3 | Room: B014 |
Contact Info: Kevin McMillan Office A248 604.323.5941 |
Days & Times: Spring 2018 Fridays: 1230-520 (Spring term runs Jan 02-April 09) Office Hours: Monday 10:00-12:00 |
This class will cover Content Management Systems, specifically WordPress.
Like anything in life, this outline is subject to occasional changes.
Throughout the term, I will add links to additional supporting content.
I want to make as much of your learning task-based, so nearly every week there will be problem-solving exercises to be completed in class or in the lab.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
- install a Content Management System (CMS) framework on a production web server
- configure a local testing environment with the same CMS
- evaluate, install and configure appropriate CMS themes, modules, widgets, and plugins
- create content, media, menu structures & content types
- create and restore data and system backups
- identify and implement appropriate security and anti-spam measures (user accounts, permissions, patches, etc.)
- customize themes
- write basic themes
Textbook / Reference Material
There is no textbook for this course: we will use primarily online sources:
Lynda.com Videos
Installing and Running WordPress: MAMP (chapters 1 & 2 )
WordPress: Essential Training
WordPress: Building Themes From Scratch Using Underscores
WordPress: Developing Secure Sites
WordPress References
The WordPress Codex
WordPress Developer Resource
Codex: Stepping into Template Tags
Codex: Template Tags List
Codex: Conditional Tags
WordPress Cheat Sheets
WP Mega Cheat Sheet
WP Developer Super Cheat Sheet
Course Structure
The class schedule is detailed below.
Techniques learned in one assignment or exercise will always be the starting point for subsequent ones. Be assured, therefore, that no lectures that can be easily missed.
It is your responsibility to make sure that you do not miss any announcements or course materials given in any class. Any additional announcements will be made via email to your mylangara accounts.
Main Assignment: Theme Project | 30% | |
Quizzes | 15% | |
Lab Exercises | 15% | |
Midterm | 20% | |
Final | 20% |
Note, also, that dates listed can change in response to class progress.
Week 1: Jan 05 ( Intro to Content Management )
- CMS vs Static Sites / WordPress.com vs WordPress.org models
- Setup of Local Testing Environment: MAMP
- WP Dashboard
- WP Editing Area
- Media / Galleries
- Embeds
- Posts
- Permalinks
Weekly Videos
- Installing and Running WordPress: MAMP, Chapters 1 & 2
- WordPress Essential Training, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Resources
- Comparison: DotOrg vs DotCom
- Setting Up A Test Environment With MAMP
- Langara Lab MAMP Network Proxy Setting Fix
Lab Exercise
Week 2: Jan 12 ( Basic Content Types )
- Posts vs Pages
- Categories & Tags
- Excerpts
- Settings / Customizer
- Menus
- Site Backup
Lab Exercise
Weekly Videos
- WordPress Essential Training, Chapters 4, 5, 6
Week 3: Jan 19 ( Themes & Plugins)
- A range of themes for business, portfolios, etc
- JetPack
- Common plugins
Lab Exercise
Weekly Videos
- WordPress Essential Training, Chapters 7, 8
Week 4: Jan 26 ( Users / Comments / Security )
- Test Number 1
- User roles
- Comments / Anti-Spam Measures
- Other comment systems
- Security pt 1
Lab Exercises
- WordPress Lab Exercise 4: Free Host & Backup (please ignore this for now)
- WordPress Lab Exercise: Users, Gravators & WP.com Services
- WordPress Lab Exercise 5: Themes
Weekly Videos
- WordPress Essential Training, Chapters 9, 11, 13
Week 5: Feb 02 ( Backup / Restoration / Duplication)
- A Range of Backup Options
- Backup Automation
- Site Transfer
- Site Restoration
- Security pt 2
- Recovering from a hack
Resources
Weekly Videos
- WordPress Essential Training, Chapters 13, 14
Week 6: Feb 09 (Midterm )
- Midterm: Theme & Plugin Setup
- Second Part of Class: Introduction to Theming
Resources
- The WordPress Template Hierarchy (with a good video explanation)
- Tuts+: WordPress Template Hierarchy Graphic Map
- Tuts+: WordPress Page Anatomy Diagram
Class / Lab Exercises
Week 7: Feb 16 ( Reading Week )
- No classes this week.
Week 8: Feb 23 ( WP Theme Development 1 )
- The Loop
- Basic Template Tags
- Leveraging WordPress CSS
- Introduction to _s (also known as Underscores)
Resources
- Download Class Files Theming Basics 2018
- For Novice Developers: Anatomy of A WordPress Theme
- Default WordPress CSS Classes
- Another Listing of WP CSS Classes, from Chris Coyier
- Even More From Chris Coyier on the Subject…
Week 9: Mar 02 ( WP Theme Development 2: _s )
- Underscores
- functions.php
- theme support
- menus
- get_template_part()
- enqueuing: css, fonts, etc
- enqueuing scripts
- underscores sass: variables, partials
Weekly Videos
Resources
- Official Theme Handbook
- The WordPress Template Hierarchy Documentation
- The WordPress Template Hierarchy Infographic
- Complete List of Template Tags
- Installing SASS & NetBeans
- Using NetBeans with WordPress
- Underscores Starter Theme 1: Downloading
- Download: Theming Basics Duplicator Package
- Underscores Menu Exercise
- Underscores Menu Exercise: Enqueuing
Week 10: Mar 09 ( WP Theme Development 3: Code Reuse )
- get_template_part()
- wp conditions
- more WP CSS & underscores SASS
Resources
Week 11: Mar 16 ( WP Theme Development 4 )
- Moving a WordPress Site From Your Testing Environment
- Multiple Loops
- WP_query
- Custom Loops WP-QUERY Exercise
- Imaginary Film Festival
- IFF Home Page
- IFF Template Parts
- IFF Template Parts (single)
- IFF do_shortcode()
- IFF Remaining Tasks
Week 12: Mar 23 ( Project Work Day )
Week 13: Mar 30: Good Friday
- College closed
Week 14: April 06: Final Exam
Exam will involve theme writing using _s.