Week 1: Introduction to WordPress and Setting Up Your First Site
Class 1: Overview of WordPress and the Dashboard
- Introduction to WordPress: What is it and why it’s popular
- Understanding the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
- Navigating the WordPress dashboard
- Basic settings and configuration (site title, tagline, timezone, etc.)
Class 2: Installing WordPress and Choosing a Theme
- How to install WordPress (manual and one-click installation)
- Understanding WordPress themes: What are themes and why are they important?
- Installing and activating a theme
- Customizing theme settings: Logo, colors, typography, and layout options
Week 2: Building Pages and Basic Site Structure
Class 1: Creating Pages and Posts
- Difference between pages and posts in WordPress
- How to create and publish pages (Home, About, Contact, etc.)
- Creating and managing blog posts
- Setting up a menu and page hierarchy (Main menu, footer menu)
Class 2: Working with Widgets and Sidebars
- What are widgets? Adding and configuring widgets in the sidebar and footer
- Popular widgets: Recent posts, categories, search, and social media links
- Organizing and customizing widgets
Week 3: Understanding WordPress Plugins
Class 1: Introduction to Plugins
- What are plugins and how do they enhance functionality?
- How to install and activate plugins
- Must-have plugins for WordPress sites: SEO, security, backups, and performance optimization
Class 2: Essential Plugins for Design
- Installing and using page builders (e.g., Elementor, WPBakery)
- Adding design elements with plugins (sliders, galleries, contact forms)
- Optimizing site performance with caching and image optimization plugins
Week 4: Customizing WordPress Themes
Class 1: Understanding the Customizer and Theme Settings
- Using the WordPress Customizer to modify site appearance
- Customizing header, footer, background, and colors
- Working with theme options: Layouts, typography, and spacing
Class 2: Child Themes and Advanced Customizations
- What is a child theme and why is it important?
- How to create and activate a child theme
- Customizing themes using CSS and overriding template files
- Adding custom styles and modifications without affecting the original theme
Week 5: Creating Responsive and Mobile-Friendly Designs
Class 1: Understanding Mobile Responsiveness
- Importance of responsive design in today’s web environment
- How to ensure your WordPress site is mobile-friendly
- Testing responsiveness using theme settings and tools (e.g., Google Mobile-Friendly Test)
Class 2: Making Your Site Mobile-Responsive
- Customizing themes for mobile: How to change layout for mobile devices
- Using responsive design techniques (breakpoints, flexible grids, images)
- Advanced options for mobile-friendly design with page builders (Elementor, WPBakery)
Week 6: Advanced Page Builders and Layout Design
Class 1: Introduction to Elementor (or Another Page Builder)
- Why use a page builder like Elementor for designing custom layouts?
- Understanding Elementor interface and key features
- Creating a basic page layout: Adding sections, columns, and elements
Class 2: Building Custom Layouts with Elementor
- Designing custom homepages, landing pages, and product pages
- Using advanced design features: Backgrounds, parallax effects, animations
- Customizing headers, footers, and other global elements using Elementor
Week 7: Optimizing Design for SEO and Speed
Class 1: SEO Basics for WordPress
- Introduction to SEO and its importance for WordPress websites
- Installing and configuring an SEO plugin (e.g., Yoast SEO, Rank Math)
- Best practices for SEO: Titles, descriptions, and image alt text
Class 2: Speed Optimization Techniques
- How to test website speed (Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix)
- Using caching plugins to improve website speed (e.g., W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache)
- Image optimization and lazy loading for better performance
- Choosing the right hosting for speed and performance
Week 8: Final Project and Website Launch
Class 1: Working on a Final WordPress Project
- Students will work on creating a full website using WordPress (could be a portfolio site, business site, blog, etc.)
- Applying everything learned: Designing pages, adding content, and using plugins
- Getting feedback and improving the design
Class 2: Launching Your WordPress Site
- Pre-launch checklist: Testing, backups, and site security
- Configuring and submitting the site to search engines
- Promoting the site: Social media, SEO, and analytics integration
- Maintenance and updates: Keeping WordPress and plugins updated for security and performance