Course Title: Youth Web Development: Learning WordPress
Objective: Equip young participants with foundational web development skills using WordPress, a user-friendly and versatile content management system (CMS). The course empowers participants to design, build, and manage websites for personal projects, small businesses, or community initiatives.
Course Duration: 6–8 Weeks
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1: Introduction to Web Development and WordPress
- Learning Objective: Understand the basics of web development and why WordPress is widely used.
- Activities:
- Lecture: Overview of web development (HTML, CSS, CMS platforms).
- Demo: Introduction to WordPress and its capabilities (e.g., themes, plugins).
- Hands-On: Set up a free WordPress account or local development environment.
- Assignment: Create a basic WordPress site and explore the dashboard.
Week 2: WordPress Basics
- Learning Objective: Navigate the WordPress dashboard and understand core features.
- Activities:
- Tutorial: Customizing site settings, pages, and posts.
- Practice: Create a homepage and an “About Us” page with sample content.
- Group Discussion: Share initial site concepts and ideas.
- Assignment: Add a blog section and publish the first blog post.
Week 3: Design and Customization
- Learning Objective: Learn to customize WordPress themes for an attractive, user-friendly design.
- Activities:
- Tutorial: Working with WordPress themes (installation, activation, customization).
- Hands-On: Explore color schemes, fonts, and layouts using the theme customizer.
- Peer Review: Get feedback on initial design choices.
- Assignment: Complete customization of the website’s design, focusing on user experience.
Week 4: Enhancing Functionality with Plugins
- Learning Objective: Understand and use WordPress plugins to add features.
- Activities:
- Demo: Popular plugins for security, SEO, forms, and galleries (e.g., Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7).
- Practice: Install and configure plugins relevant to participants’ website goals.
- Exercise: Add a contact form and test its functionality.
- Assignment: Identify and install at least three plugins to enhance site functionality.
Week 5: Content Creation and Management
- Learning Objective: Develop engaging and well-structured content for websites.
- Activities:
- Workshop: Writing effective web copy and structuring pages for readability.
- Tutorial: Using the Gutenberg editor to create dynamic layouts.
- Hands-On: Add multimedia content like images, videos, and galleries.
- Assignment: Create a fully designed page with text, images, and embedded multimedia.
Week 6: Advanced Customization and Launch Preparation
- Learning Objective: Refine the website with advanced customization and prepare it for launch.
- Activities:
- Tutorial: Intro to custom CSS for further design tweaks.
- Workshop: Optimize the website for speed, mobile responsiveness, and SEO.
- Peer Critique: Share websites and gather feedback for final improvements.
- Assignment: Finalize the website and ensure all pages are ready for publication.
Optional Weeks for Extended Courses
Week 7: Launching the Website
- Learning Objective: Understand the process of launching and maintaining a WordPress site.
- Activities:
- Lecture: How to connect domains and hosting for live sites.
- Demo: Set up basic analytics tools like Google Analytics.
- Hands-On: Launch the website and test all functionalities.
- Assignment: Go live with the website and share the link with the group.
Week 8: Advanced Features and Future Growth
- Learning Objective: Explore advanced WordPress tools and next steps in web development.
- Activities:
- Tutorial: Intro to e-commerce (WooCommerce) and membership sites.
- Group Discussion: Opportunities to monetize or expand websites.
- Workshop: Resources for learning more about web development (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
- Assignment: Develop a plan for future website enhancements.
Key Features of the Course
Hands-On Learning
- Participants actively build a WordPress website throughout the course.
Customization and Creativity
- Focus on personalizing websites to match participants’ interests or project goals.
Practical Applications
- Real-world skills that can be applied to school projects, businesses, or community initiatives.
Materials Needed
- Laptops or desktop computers.
- Internet access.
- WordPress account or local development software like XAMPP/WAMP.
Expected Outcomes
- Proficiency in WordPress site creation and management.
- A completed and functional website tailored to individual or group goals.
- Basic understanding of web design, SEO, and content management.
- Confidence to explore more advanced web development topics.
Optional Extensions
- Guest Speaker: Invite a professional web developer or digital marketer to share insights.
- Portfolio Development: Help participants use their WordPress sites as part of their professional portfolios.
- Community Service Project: Collaborate to design a website for a local non-profit or community initiative.
Would you like specific themes, such as e-commerce, personal blogging, or community websites, to be emphasized in this course? Let me know!
