About Our Site and Online Community
Welcome participants in the Social Media and Web Design presentation at America House-Kyiv,
You’ll find the resources we discussed on the menu tabbed pages Web Design Resources, and WP Sites. The number of choices to be made can be overwhelming when you first begin to design with WordPress. My suggestion would be to start by selecting from my recommended resources just to save yourself time.
Next, you should, a.) find web sites whose style you like, that serve the function that you’re interested in, and take notes about the details of style, layout, and the site functions, b.) sign up for the free ten days membership at Lynda.com and watch several video series on building a WP site (see video titles below), c.) open a small hosting account at one of the three recommended services and do an auto-install of WordPress, d.) using the directions in the video, load a free theme like Generate($0-30) , Evolve($39), or Genesis ($60+), e.) find images on Google Image and size for your site locations; header, background, etc., f.) setup a few pages and posts, load images to media library, and place on site, g.) upload basic plugins like Wordfence, Simple Firewall, h.) go back and review the Lynda.com video instructions again and add to site.
If there’s interest, it’s possible there will be follow-up sessions on building a website with WordPress. Let the organizers at America House know of your interest and perhaps we can setup another session this summer or in early Fall.
Good luck with your web design!
Lon Kaufmann June. 15, 2017
WordPress DIY: Setting Up WordPress, with Morten Rand-Hendriksen
WordPress Essential Training, with Morten Rand-Hendriksen
WordPress Ecommerce: WooCommerce, with Morten Rand-Hendriksen
If using the Genesis theme ;
WordPress and Genesis DIY: Setting Up Genesis, with Carrie Dils
Up and Running with Genesis for WordPress, with Carrie Dils
Customizing Themes with Genesis for WordPress, with Carrie Dils
WordPress and Genesis DIY: Showcasing Photography, with Carrie Dils
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Welcome participants in the Kyiv-Mohyla Digital Education Workshop of December 2012,
This site is setup as an example of how WordPress can be used to setup a community hub for regional news and the support of interest groups. Traditional community networks have been in place forever of course, but the speed and breadth of the Internet can expand and enhance these. It would seem that during peaceful times an online news hub can help people of common interest find each other, and be affirmed in finding others like themselves. This self-confidence and mutual respect could provide a source of social strength and stability in times of natural disaster or social unrest.
In terms of construction, this site is a combination of some of my favorite WordPress plug-ins and a new free theme I just discovered rather recently. Its called ‘Custom Community’ and a link to its designers site, ThemeKraft, is in the DFJ/DMU Resources page. The theme provides a simple magazine layout format where traditional news columns or editorial content can be placed. This is combined with a classic forum, and a mini group chat area similar to Facebooks. An Instagram page is included to provide a demonstration location for speedy image delivery which supports the new phenomena of the information consumer having become the news reporter. Additional sections of a site like this could support a store, want ads, and real-time chat rooms. The potential to monetize such a hub could be significant.
Please Register on the front page and setup a new group, post in the forum, or leave a comment!
Lon Kaufmann
Visiting Professor of Design
National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Fall 2012