Learn How to Build Websites with WordPress (AUGUST 2023)

Course Title: Comprehensive WordPress Development Course

Course Duration: 6 weeks

Course Overview:

The Comprehensive WordPress Development Course is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to build professional and dynamic websites using WordPress. From the basics of installation to advanced customization, this course covers the entire spectrum of WordPress development. Students will gain hands-on experience through practical exercises, projects, and real-world examples.

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of WordPress and its role in website development.
• Install and configure WordPress on various hosting platforms.
• Customize WordPress themes and create visually appealing websites.
• Implement essential plugins for enhanced functionality.
• Optimize websites for search engines and improve overall performance.
• Create and manage dynamic content through custom post types and taxonomies.
• Secure WordPress websites and protect against common vulnerabilities.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Introduction to WordPress

• Overview of WordPress and its Features
• Understanding the difference between WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.org
• Installing WordPress locally using XAMPP or similar tools
• Exploring the WordPress dashboard and its core components

Week 2: Setting Up a WordPress Website

• Choosing a hosting provider and registering a domain
• Installing WordPress on a live server
• Configuring essential settings for optimal performance and security
• Exploring the file structure and database of a WordPress site

Week 3: Customizing WordPress Themes

• Introduction to WordPress Themes and their Importance
• Selecting and installing pre-designed themes
• Customizing themes using the WordPress Customizer and theme options
• Modifying themes using HTML, CSS, and template tags

Week 4: Essential WordPress Plugins

• Understanding the purpose of plugins in WordPress
• Installing and configuring essential plugins (e.g., SEO, security, caching)
• Exploring popular plugins for contact forms, social media integration, and more
• Troubleshooting plugin conflicts and performance issues

Week 5: Dynamic Content and Custom Post Types

• Utilizing custom post types and taxonomies for unique content organization
• Creating custom post types for different content types (e.g., portfolio, testimonials)
• Customizing archive pages and creating custom taxonomies
• Advanced querying and displaying of dynamic content

Week 6: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Performance Optimization

• Implementing SEO best practices for WordPress websites
• Optimizing website speed and performance through caching
• Analyzing website performance using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights
• Implementing responsive images and lazy loading techniques

Week 7: WordPress Security

• Identifying common security vulnerabilities in WordPress
• Implementing security measures (e.g., strong passwords, user roles, file permissions)
• Installing and configuring security plugins
• Performing regular backups and disaster recovery planning

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and PHP is recommended but not required.

Familiarity with web development concepts and terminology is beneficial.

Access to a computer with a text editor and a local development environment (e.g., XAMPP or similar tools) is required.

Assessment:

Weekly quizzes to evaluate theoretical understanding

Practical assignments and projects to assess practical skills

The final project to demonstrate comprehensive WordPress development knowledge

By the end of this comprehensive WordPress development course, students will have the skills and confidence to create dynamic, secure, and professional websites using the powerful WordPress platform.