EASI WordPress training
WordPress is the Content Management System (CMS) we use, it hosts the nau.edu, in.nau.edu, and training.wp.nau.edu domains. Making changes in the “back-end” of the site in WordPress (WP), will control what appears on the “front-end,” the front-facing URL that people who visit the site see. Changes can range from something as simple as adding a hyperlink on a word to reworking the content on an entire site.
Initial training
As your introduction to WordPress and our University-specific theme, you will complete the training process exactly as clients do. You will find the three steps for the training process (sandbox site, training, open labs) on our training page.
Important notes
- Ensure that you complete this training in its entirety – this is the most common system that you will be working with, therefore it is imperative that you learn and know it well.
- Since you work for Team WCM, you do not need to email us to request a Sandbox. Just ask a Tier 2 or 3 member, if you do not have one yet.
- There’s no need to email us with your questions, either. Simply compile all of the questions you have and find a good time to ask a team member.
- The Lynda videos are required for you to watch (watch every video in the course)
- If you need assistance logging in, visit the Lynda page.
Second phase of training
Once you have completed the training above and a Tier 2 or 3 member has approved your Sandbox site, you will be ready to complete the second phase of WP training. In this phase, you will be learning how to perform advanced functions in WordPress by reading through the resources provided via the “Helpful links” section and self-learning how to navigate these features. Remember, this is your training site, so don’t hesitate to explore the settings and functionalities of these features so that you can learn how they interact with your site. Before continuing, ask a Tier 2 or 3 members if your access needs to be adjusted. Then, complete the following in your Sandbox site:
- Figure out how to replace media in the media library and crop photos for your site (check in a page to make sure that both of these things worked)
- Figure out what the upload limit is for files in the media library – Why do you think this limit exists? (Ask a Tier 2 or 3 members for context)
- Navigate to Gravity Forms
- Create and build a form that models this form exactly (helpful note: don’t forget to include what happens when you click the “yes” option on the “Will your event require specialty equipment?”)
- Helpful links: forms documentation, Gravity Forms’ internal documentation
- Configure the form to send to your WCM-yourname@nau.edu
- Configure the form to send from DoNotReply@nau.edu (ask a Tier 2 or 3 members for context)
- Set the confirmation message as “Thank you for submitting this form, you are awesome!”
- Submit the form (as many times as you’d like) and export the entries as a .csv file
- Have a Tier 2 or 3 member review this form before moving on
- Create and build a form that models this form exactly (helpful note: don’t forget to include what happens when you click the “yes” option on the “Will your event require specialty equipment?”)
- Navigate to TablePress
- Create and build a table that models this table exactly
- Have a Tier 2 or 3 member review this table
- Add a menu that includes every page in your site
- Helpful tips: go to Appearance > Menus on your WordPress dashboard. Add all pages on your site and add some as. In order for the menu items to appear correctly, you will need to set the menu as the Department Navigation Menu, enable Max Mega Menu Settings. Then, in the settings for every menu item, change the “Sub menu display mode” to be “Mega Menu – Standard Layout.”