vcc.ca
VCDP 1283: Wordpress 1
Effective date
September 2020
Department
Visual Comm Design Diploma
School
Trades, Technology and Design
Description
Wordpress is currently the most widely used content management system (CMS) in the graphic design industry. It is used to power online presences on a variety of scales, from small entrepreneurial businesses to large scale enterprises. In this course, students will be introduced to the basic functionalities included in a default Wordpress installation and will also be guided through the process of selecting and installing themes and plugins to change the look, layout, and functionality of the website. The course will also teach students to customize existing Wordpress templates using hand-coded CSS, page-builder plugins, and customizable theme settings. Domain names, web hosting, and FTP software will be reviewed.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
1st Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Install and configure a basic 5-10 page Wordpress website, including domain name setup, and populate the website with content
- Organize website content to effectively achieve client and user goals
- Identify advantages and disadvantages of using a content management system (CMS) and pre-made themes
- Research, select, install, and configure basic Wordpress themes
- Extend website functionality by selecting, configuring, and troubleshooting Wordpress plugins
- Customize the look of a Wordpress site by adding basic hand-coded CSS
- Use a page-builder plugin to create a custom page layout and style
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
1. Interview with department to discuss previous experience
2. A portfolio assessment of previously completed related work OR
3. The demonstration of skills via the successful completion of 1-4 related projects/assignments similar to those completed in the course, chosen at the discretion of the department
2. A portfolio assessment of previously completed related work OR
3. The demonstration of skills via the successful completion of 1-4 related projects/assignments similar to those completed in the course, chosen at the discretion of the department
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 42
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Practicum, Self-Paced, Individual Learning: 12
Total Hours: 54
Instructional Strategies
A combination of lecture, demonstration, production simulations, problem solving, practical labs and reflective discussion will be used throughout this course.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Project |
30 |
Final project |
|
Assignments |
30 |
Assignments |
|
Lab Work |
30 |
May include in-class exercises, assignments, quizzes/tests, and work-in-progress |
|
Participation |
10 |
Participation and professionalism |
Course topics
- Web design principles
- Content management systems (CMS)
- Wordpress themes and plugins
- Hosting, domain names, and FTP
- Website security
- Child themes and custom CSS
- Page builders
- File and database backups
- Common technical issues and Wordpress troubleshooting
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.