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Langara Outlines

WMDD4840 Outline (2018)

 

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

SKIP to Class Content

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.

Assessments
Main Assignment: Theme Project 30%
Quizzes 15%
Lab Exercises 15%
Midterm 20%
Final 20%

Final Assignment Description

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

Resources

Lab Exercise

Week 2: Jan 12 ( Basic Content Types )

  • Posts vs Pages
  • Categories & Tags
  • Excerpts
  • Settings / Customizer
  • Menus
  • Site Backup

Lab Exercise

Weekly Videos

Week 3: Jan 19 ( Themes & Plugins)

  • A range of themes for business, portfolios, etc
  • JetPack
  • Common plugins

Lab Exercise

Weekly Videos

Week 4: Jan 26 ( Users / Comments / Security )

  • Test Number 1
  • User roles
  • Comments / Anti-Spam Measures
  • Other comment systems
  • Security pt 1

Lab Exercises

Weekly Videos

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

Week 6: Feb 09 (Midterm )

Resources

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

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

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 )

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.