Free Skool:Fall 2013 Web Dev

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Bridgeport Free Skool Web Development class

• The focus of this class will be Web development with WordPress.
• Each participant has a WordPress instance created for them, and we dig in. A secondary focus will be basic HTML and CSS editing, so that participants will better understand the underlying nature of Web pages.
• We'll need a quick overview of wiki editing as well, so that we can use this wiki for collaboration.
• Finally, the facilitators will hammer home the importance of freedom, openness, and the role of FOSS (free/open-source software) in building and maintaining a free Web.

Time and Location

Classes take place Tuesdays 6:30pm to 7:30pm EST, October 8, 15, 22, 29 and November 5, 12, & 19 at Arcade Mall, 993 Main St

Optionally, after class sessions can be scheduled, preferably somewhere with beer and the Internet.

Signing Up

Sign up on the Bpt Free Skool website (there's a simple form at the bottom of the page for each class). You can also just contact the facilitator (listed below) directly, or just show up. Classes are typically 3-8 people, but we have room for (maybe) 12 people and will try to make computers available for participants upon request.

• To edit this wiki, you must request an account.

Facilitator

Sean "Diggity" O'Brien

me@seandiggity.com or sean@webio.me

Participants

• List will go here, if you want your name published!
• Please consider joining Foojbook, which will make communication much smoother.

Class Blogs

Check out our blog "farm"!

Apricot

• Current Title: Girl Talk
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/apricot
• Author: Elaine Ward

Banana

• Current Title: Unoccupied
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/banana
• Author: None, please request this blog for yourself from Sean O'Brien by e-mailing sean@webio.me

Cherry

• Current Title: Constructivism 101
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/cherry
• Author: Rick Perez esistence@hotmail.com

Date

• Current Title: Unoccupied
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/date
• Author: None, please request this blog for yourself from Sean O'Brien by e-mailing sean@webio.me

Eggplant

• Current Title: Eggplant City
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/eggplant
• Author: Davey

Fig

• Current Title: Unoccupied
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/fig
• Author: None, please request this blog for yourself from Sean O'Brien by e-mailing sean@webio.me

Grape

• Current Title: Unoccupied
• Location: https://getlibre.org/farm/grape
• Author: None, please request this blog for yourself from Sean O'Brien by e-mailing sean@webio.me

Class Outline

Open House Presentation

October 1, 2013

FOSS Overview

• Presentation from the first session [ODP]
• Presentation from the first session [PDF]

Session 1

October 8, 2013

Quick Overview of HTML and CSS

• Get started with HTML and CSS samples and the live code editor at W3Schools.
• Video Tutorial: tutor4u at YouTube
• For a great code editor in Windows, try out Notepad++
• For a great code editor in Mac OSX, try out Smultron

WordPress Blogs

• We set up custom WordPress instances for everyone. If you need a WordPress instance (blog), please contact sean@webio.me.

Freedom Tips

1. Install Firefox with the Web Developer extension.
2. While you're at it, why not block ads and browse the Web more securely?

Sessions 2 & 3

October 15 & 22, 2013

Set Up Our Environment

• Double-check that everyone is signed up for the participants mailing list, has an account on this wiki, and knows where the wiki help is.
• Quick survey of the hardware, operating systems, and Web browsers we're working with.
• If we can, get Firefox installed with at least the Web Developer extension.
• If we can, get each user a decent text editor.

Recap

• How to view source in Firefox, what the Web Developer extension does.
• Why we don't need/want Dreamweaver and other WYSIWYG editors for this class.
• Point participants to the Primer for Web Developers again.
• Questions?

Freedom Tips

1. Install a search plugin that doesn't spy on you (like Google does).
2. DuckDuckGo is the safest way to search, even on your phone. Learn to use "bangs" such as !yt for YouTube, !g for Google, !gi for Google Images, and !gm for Google Maps.

Sessions 4 & 5

Note: We're skipping a session, Nov 5th, to direct our energy toward the Bridgeport Art Trail instead.

October 29 & November 12, 2013

Dive Into WordPress

• Overview of WordPress features, with an emphasis on the basic setup.
• Get each of our "farm" class blogs set up (fill in the basic config, install already done).
• See our WordPress Basics.

Freedom Tips

1. Want to know more about the dominant Web technologies? Ever wonder how many people use WordPress or JavaScript in their websites? Check out W3Techs.
2. The gratis and libre themes on WordPress.org not your cup of tea? Check out Creative Market for paid (and some gratis) themes. Everything there is libre, and there are also tons of graphics, fonts, etc.

Class Materials

Did you know you can "roll your own" PDF from any page(s) of this site by clicking Print/export > Download as PDF in the sidebar?

More Resources

• Links to all kinds of cool (and helpful!) stuff.

Wiki Editing Help

Tips on editing this wiki.