It’s overwhelming, the amount of help there is online for WordPress, WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Here’s some places to get started:
- http://learn.wordpress.com/ is a series of how-to’s direct from WordPress.com It’s a Step 1 Step 2 sort of presentation, so if you would benefit from going from point to point, this is where you’ll want to start
- a very handy glossary that’s conveniently linked to the lessons on each entry at http://learn.wordpress.com/glossary/
- Another glossary, but watch, because some of the terms are strictly for self-hosted WordPress.org topics http://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/
- http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/07/29/what-do-i-do-with-my-new-wordpresscom-blog/ Lorelle has grown from one woman to a full company. They offer instructive videos on many topics, including WordPress.com and WordPress.org
- http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/ This blogger has made a career out of helping people with WordPress.com. You’ll often see her answering questions on the WP forums as well.
- Oh, the forums? They’re here: http://en.forums.wordpress.com/
- Some youtube videos on our subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFo9GMfmezQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu1WBbNQ01k, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2g99I_m-KQ
Sites focused on self-hosted web sites/ blogs using the WordPress program, but WordPress.com users will find much of the information useful as well:
- https://www.helpkidscode.com/how-to-teach-wordpress-basics-to-students/
- Here is a $39 online course on WordPress.org http://www.tentononline.com/how-to-get-started-with-wordpress/
Specific questions students have asked:
- Mapping an existing domain: http://en.support.wordpress.com/domains/map-existing-domain/#instructions-for-mapping-an-existing-domain
- switching from WordPress.com to WordPress.org: http://tinyurl.com/katessuggestion (= http://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-properly-move-your-blog-from-wordpress-com-to-wordpress-org/)
- How to decide on a theme http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/choosing-my-theme/
- More on menus http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/
- And how to create pages which pull up just a specific category of your blog posts: http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/#adding-category-pages-to-your-menu and making a menu item which simply links to another site: http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/#adding-custom-links
- another take on teaching menus: http://wpbtips.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/custom-menus/
- Dealing with images: http://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-fix-common-image-issues-in-wordpress/ and http://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/text-wont-wrap-around-images?replies=14
- If you don’t like something about the theme you have chosen, for example the fonts used, you may want to consider the “custom” option: http://en.support.wordpress.com/custom-design/
It’s very helpful to know at least some HTML. These links will help:
- https://www.helpkidscode.com/html-coding-for-beginners/
- http://www.w3schools.com/html/ lets you practice live with HTML and is as addictive as Candy Crush.
- What codes WordPress.com allows and what it doesn’t: http://en.support.wordpress.com/code/
- And some “sneaky” ways to do some complicated things: shortcodes! http://en.support.wordpress.com/category/shortcodes/
Please check the PDFs and notes for each class for many more links to help you in your exciting journey as you communicate online!
Create a free blog or website 
All good, Katie, but these are all in link dumps. You generated a trackback, which is awesome, but you might wish to change all the link dumps before you submit the homework. Love your list!
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Lorelle, I am so flattered that you took the time to take a look at these links I collected up for the Sarasota Tech Users Group class I just finished teaching. You are one of my heroes! I dream of taking one of your classes, but never have.
I cannot seem to find what’s meant by “link dump”… do you mean I have overloaded this blog post that is for my students with too many links so it looks like I am trying to game some SE system? I will also have to study up on “generating a trackback”… (guess a little knowledge can be dangerous!)
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One more thing, and then you can delete or edit both comments. Headings are subtitles not paragraphs or sentences. “HTML Resources” would be enough in a heading then the heading you have written turned into an opening sentence to introduce the list.
You also have instructions on PDFs at the bottom. As we will discuss in class, if you have to tell people how to use your site, it’s broken. A simple (PDF) at the end of each PDF link in your list is enough to let people know what they need to do.
This is such a fantastic list, do it proud by making it look professional, too. Thanks!
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I see exactly what you mean re over-applying the heading to more than just a, well, heading. Thanks for that and I will edit.
The final heading (which I WILL change as per your advice 😉 ) simply refers to the PDFs I have used on my “Class” pages… reminding my students that not only are there links on the post they are currently reading, but within the slides I used in my three session.
I do have to, however, respectfully disagree with the blanket statement “if you have to tell people how to use your site, it’s broken”… not everyone who uses the web or internet knows HOW to, and I actually address, in my other blogs/ sites, a LOT of people who need some guidance. E.g., folks who, when asked for their site’s URL, give me an email address 🙂
Again, thanks for taking the time to comment on a stranger’s blog… and I DO treasure you, your site, and all your knowledge!
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