Quick Links
Quick Sign-In Link
ENGL 214 Fall 2013 Course Website/Blog [CLICK HERE]
About this Page
This page is an introduction to our course blog, hosted at WordPress.org. This page has two sections:
- Getting Started (Part One): Registering and Logging Into the Blog
- Getting Started (Part Two): Drafting, Editing and Publishing Your First Post
Getting Started (Part One): Registering and Logging Into the Blog
The instructor will send you a “WordPress” invitation at the email address you have listed for yourself on Moodle. This invitation only registers you for our course website/blog, no other sites. Open the invitation and click on the confirmation link inside of it. It will assign you a username and a password to log in. Please immediately note these or email them to yourself for future reference.
Of course all students will want to be aware of some of the implications of entering into online interactions in an academic context. See my “Student Use of the Digital Classroom” page before going any further.
Getting Started (Part Two): Drafting, Editing and Publishing Your First Post
As an “Author” on our blog you have the ability to publish posts of written text on the website, add images or other media to your posts, or delete and revise things you have written. You may also comment on the posts of others.
The “Dashboard” is the central location for doing anything on a WordPress blog. It should look something like this:
Your WordPress Dashboard includes a few features you need to become familiar with in order to make a post for our course:
- the title area [type the title of your post here]
- the body of your post [type the content of your post here]
- the “publish” area beneath the body of your post. This area contains both the “Publish” button which places your post on the website for the public to see; and the “Save Draft” button which simply saves your post for later revising or work.
- the “Category” button on the lower left [you will need to select “Course Blog” for all the posts you add to our site]
- the “Featured Image” button on the lower left. You will select an image that will serve as your avatar for others to identify your posts by image. Use the “Featured Image” button to upload and add a “Featured Image” avatar to each of your blog posts. Whichever image you select you should keep it and use it throughout the term. WordPress stores images you upload in its Media Library (see the “Media” tab on the left hand side of your Dashboard). This way you will never need to upload your image more than once.
A last bit of advice: use the “Preview” button, found in the “Publish” area of the dashboard to preview your posts before going live. Delete or “Trash” any posts you decide not to use.
FIRST ASSIGNMENT: Your first WordPress post should be a “Self-Introduction” post. Tell your audience (the class, the public) who you are; why you are writing (class assignment); and any other information that might be of interest (e.g. if you are suspicious of blogs, if you have any special experience in the topics of our course, etc.). Draft the post then publish it, remembering to check the “Course Blog” category box and add your “Featured” avatar image before “Publishing” it. When you have finished this, make a brief comment on one other person’s introductory post.
NOTE: At the conclusion of the course you may wish to delete your profile (“Edit My Profile” — upper right side of the Dashboard) which will remove all of your posts from the course website/blog.
Happy posting!
