Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for CAS 211W archive revision 202104

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Effective Term:
Fall 2021

Course Number:
CAS 211W
Course Title:
WordPress Customizations and Theme Building
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
10
Lecture/Lab Hours:
40
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Covers the modification and customization of existing WordPress themes using child themes. Includes using a responsive HTML5/CSS3 framework to create new, unique themes. Explores editing and updating the Theme Customizer and other dashboard enhancements. Introduces the creation of menu capability, page templates, widgets, sidebars and other widget areas. Covers WordPress PHP functions and hooks. Includes e-commerce, translation, and SEO concepts. Includes creating basic plugins, security and techniques for backing up and moving WordPress sites. Recommended: CAS 111W, CAS 206, and CAS 213 or a working knowledge of WordPress, HTML5, CSS3 and basic JavaScript or PHP programming concepts and placement into RD 115 and WR 115. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

  1. Use WordPress theme frameworks to create a unique theme and/or child theme.

  2. Use a personally created WordPress theme to develop a personal and/or business website following current professional and/or industry standards.

  3. Use critical thinking skills to modify, customize, and edit WordPress code.

  4. Backup an existing WordPress site and move it to a new domain and/or server.

  5. Apply SEO concepts to optimize a WordPress site.

Course Activities and Design

  • Completion of a functional multi-page web site using WordPress program.
  • Tests or quizzes

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Grading of this class will be based on completion of project(s) developed individually. Assessments may include:
Completion of a new, functional WordPress theme and modification of an existing WordPress theme. The themes and sites may include some or all of the following:

  • Updated HTML structure and responsive CSS grid
  • JavaScript and jQuery additions
  • Custom or new sidebar and widget area
  • Updated and enhanced  dashboard and creation of Theme Options
  • Additional WordPress functions and hooks
  • E-commerce and SEO plugins
  • Relocation to a new location or a new server and a new database

Tests or quizzes

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Creating a child theme and customizing existing WordPress themes
  • Utilizing FTP to connect to the host server to backup and upload files
  • Modifying and creating new WordPress themes from a framework
  • Adding a Theme Options area to the WordPress dashboard for use with the new theme
  • Editing and adding sidebars, widget areas, page templates and other WordPress functions and features
  • Installing and configuring an e-commerce plugin and modifying template files to make a custom online shop
  • Following appropriate Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices and using SEO plugins