Tag: Wordpress

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Class 1: Tell a Story with WordPress

Tell a Story with WordPress

Image source: Pixabay / Mysticsartdesign

Most of class will consist of one-on-one meetings with students and instructor – while rest of class works on their first post. Students will also receive an overview of the course and expectations.

See screencast video below: “Get Started with WordPress Blocks“

Intro to WordPress web publishing 

All classes and student work will be published to this site. We do this to motivate both the instructor and students to do their best work – since “the world is watching.” WordPress is a simple and popular way to create a website. And it’s a great skill to have – because WordPress is used by roughly 1 out of every 3 websites in the world.

Assignment 1: “Tell an Ed Story with Web Content” | Ed Stories 22-A1

Students will create their first web post and have a chance to get familiar with WordPress platform. Guided practice time will be provided during class, so that students can get personalized assistance. 

The goal of this first assignment is learning to work with WordPress Blocks – choose them, insert them, move them around and edit your post.

While the content of the post is secondary to the process, you should choose a theme that lets you “tell” an educational story. For example a theme such as:

  • My student life …
  • My old school / or teachers that inspired me.
  • Best or worse ideas for teachers (or students).
  • Letter to my future (teacher) self.
  • An education-related story or fairytale.
  • Any other education -related prompt that supports the task.

While much of your post will be text, use at least 6 WordPress embeds from other sources to illustrate or elaborate on your narrative. Embed can include:

  • Click “Plus” icon and long list of blocks appear. Scroll to bottom for embeds.
  • Or use the search form to search for box. For example “TikTok”

You can find WordPress Embed blocks at the bottom of the block list. You might try:

  • GIFs from Giphy
  • Posts from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Imgur, Pinterest
  • Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, TED
  • Audio from Spotify or MixCloud
  • Other embeds supported by WordPress

Note: Only GIFs have a built in search by topic. All others require first finding the content on the destination platform and then copy the URL into the appropriate WordPress embed block. Most platforms have a share button that leads to a URL you can copy.

Your post should include:

  1. Clever title – be creative with this.
  2. Some explanatory text using Paragraph or Headings blocks.
  3. At least 8 embeds from list above (use as many as you want from any one source)
  4. NO IMAGES for now – next week we will learn how to find public domain images and add them to your posts. 

Resources

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Class 2: Working with Public Domain Images

Working with Public Domain Images

Featured Image by Simon from Pixabay

Class Session

This class will lead off with a  discussion of our first class and assignment. Then we will focus on how to find public domain / copyright free image and how to add images to a WordPress post.

Finding Public Domain / Copyright free images

We will explore search techniques with a focus on finding public domain / copyright free content. For more information on public domain searches visit our Copyright Free Content page.

Featured Images in WordPress

Students will learn how to make a “Featured Image” for their WordPress posts. Then they will create one to add to last week’s post. A WordPress “Featured Image” should have a portrait format image. It appears in the top of the post and serves as an “icon” for the post on WordPress and social media.

Option: Students MAY add text “over” the featured post image using a variety of apps – Canva, Adobe Spark Post, or any other app like PowerPoint or Keynote that lets you add text over images and save as a JPG or PNG file.

  • 1. Click WP gear icon to open settings
  • 2. Click “Post” to change from block settings
  • 3. Drag in Featured image or select from Media libary
WordPress Image blocks

Students will be introduced to WordPress image block styles and how to work with each one.

Image, Cover and Media and Text use a single image.

Image compare uses two images

The other blocks use multiple images.

Assignment 2: Design Two Image-based Learning Activities | Image Activities 21A-2

We will use this assignment as a chance to practice our public domain search skills. It will also involve a bit of curation to decide which images to use. Plus we can explore ways to use images to support instruction.

Students should design a post that features at least two image-based learning activities. (they can be related – but don’t have to be).

Here’s some posts from last spring (but I did not assign the different image blocks).

Post guidelines:

  1. Students should use two different image blocks styles to design two short image-based learning activities.
  2. For example:  vocabulary, pre-reading activity, close reading of image, compare / contrast, continuity / change, activate prior knowledge etc.
  3. Context of lesson – target students (grade, course)
  4. Add an explanation for each activity that would help a student or another teacher would know what to do.
  5. All images should be in the public domain.
  6. All images should have an active hyperlink back to the source. (Always be sure to check your links.)
  7. Interesting title for the post
  8. Featured image for the post

Resources

What does an “Image Compare” look like? More on how to work with image compares.

1897 topographic map of Portland, OR compared to Google Maps

Search for Public Domain Image and add to WordPress Post

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    Class 1: Publish with WordPress

    Publish with WordPress

    Featured image: Canva

    Overview / Goals

    We will open with a introductory exercise using Jamboard, then turn our attention to some essential questions for students of ed tech:

    How will this tech tool add value to learning?
    How do we use tools that support student comprehension?
    How do we use tools that turn students from
    consumers of information into creators?
    How can we provide students opportunities to
    share their learning with others?

    Intro to WordPress web publishing

    All classes and student work will be published to this site. We do this to motivate both the instructor and students to do their best work – since “the world is watching.” WordPress is a simple and popular way to create a website or blog. And it’s a great skill to have – because it’s used by roughly 1 out of every 3 websites in the world.

    Assignment 1: “Tell a Story with Web Content” | Embed Stories 21-A1

    Students will create their first web post and have a chance to get familiar with WordPress platform. Guided practice time will be provided during class, so that students can get personalized assistance.

    Since the goal is learning to work with WordPress Blocks, students should feel free to choose a prompt that inspires them …. like:

    • “2020 time capsule”
    • “Scrapbook for my future self”
    • “Things that make me smile”
    • Tell a story or fairytale
    • Any other prompt that supports the task

    Use at least 10 WordPress embeds from other sources. – Such as:

    • GIFs from Giphy
    • Posts from Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Imgur, Pinterest
    • Videos from YouTube, Vimeo, TED
    • Audio from Spotify or MixCloud
    • Other embeds supported by WordPress

    Note: Only GIFs have a built in search by topic. All others require first finding the content on the destination platform and then copy the URL into the appropriate WordPress embed block. Most platforms have a share button that leads to a URL you can copy.

    Your post should include:

    1. Clever title – be creative with this.
    2. At least 10 embeds from list above (use as many as you want from any one source)
    3. Use blocks like: Paragraph text, Heading and Separator to improve layout.
    4. NO IMAGES for now – next week we will learn how to find public domain images.

    Resources

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    Assignment: First blog post

    my first blog post
    HOMEWORK for Jan 19

    Task 1:  For your first blog post write a reflection on your use of edtech and where you hope to go with it. The post is due by midnight Sunday Jan 22. Read student responses here.

    Students can access our YouTube Playlist for assistance with WordPress.

    For specific prompts consider some of these (just some ideas starters, you don’t have to write about all of them):

    • What’s my current use of edtech tools in my placement?
    • How does the “tech landscape” of my current placement impact my use of edtech in the classroom?
    • How do the tech skills / demographics of my students impact my use of edtech in the classroom?
    • What are my personal uses of edtech tools to learn and network as an educator?
    • Where do I want to be in my use of edtech tools in 3 years?
    • What are you hoping for in this edtech pilot?

    Task 2: Before our 1/26 class, comment on at least 3 student posts. It’s a conversation, not simply a “nice job.”

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    Class 1: What do you want to learn about edtech?

    edtech - what do you want to learn?

    Image credit: Jason Michael Mac Keyboard

    First off we’ll explore our ED 424 goals and foundations.

    For our intro we will explore the question “What do you want to learn about edtech?” We’ll split into four groups and each use a different means of collecting collaboration to gather input on the question – Coggle, Padlet, a shared Google doc, and an “old school” poster board. Later, each group will present their findings and we will discuss both responses and how the different tools helped or hindered our progress.

    Next we will all get logged into our new WordPress account. Students will get a quick overview and be pointed to our YouTube playlist.

    Homework

    Task 1:  For your first blog post write a reflection on your use of edtech and where you hope to go with it. The post is due by midnight Sunday Jan 22. Read student responses here.

    For specific prompts consider some of these (just some ideas starters, you don’t have to write about all of them):

    • What’s my current use of edtech tools in my placement?
    • How does the “tech landscape” of my current placement impact my use of edtech in the classroom?
    • How do the tech skills / demographics of my students impact my use of edtech in the classroom?
    • What are my personal uses of edtech tools to learn and network as an educator?
    • Where do I want to be in my use of edtech tools in 3 years?
    • What are you hoping for in this edtech pilot?

    Task 2: Before our 1/26 class, comment on at least 3 student posts. It’s a conversation, not simply a “nice job.”

    Student brainstorms completed in class – first 3 enlarge with click

    Coggle Brainstorm 1

    Coggle Brainstorm 2

    Coggle Brainstorm 3