Description
Day 1: Introduction to Content Management Systems (CMS)
Morning Session:
- Welcome and Course Overview
- Introduction to the course objectives and structure.
- Overview of popular CMS platforms: WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
- Introduction to CMS
- Definition and purpose of a CMS.
- Key features and benefits of using a CMS.
- Choosing the Right CMS
- Comparing WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
- Factors to consider when selecting a CMS for your project.
Afternoon Session:
4. Setting Up Your Environment
- Overview of web hosting and domain names.
- Installing a local development environment (e.g., XAMPP, MAMP).
- Hands-On: Installing WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal Locally
- Step-by-step installation process for each CMS.
- Initial setup and configuration.
Day 2: Installing and Configuring CMS Platforms
Morning Session:
- Deep Dive: WordPress Installation and Configuration
- Detailed walkthrough of WordPress installation.
- Configuring essential settings (general, reading, writing, discussion, media, permalinks).
- Deep Dive: Joomla Installation and Configuration
- Detailed walkthrough of Joomla installation.
- Configuring essential settings (site, system, server).
Afternoon Session:
3. Deep Dive: Drupal Installation and Configuration
- Detailed walkthrough of Drupal installation.
- Configuring essential settings (site information, regional and language, media).
- Q&A and Troubleshooting Installation Issues
- Common installation issues and solutions.
- Open forum for addressing participant questions.
Day 3: Themes and Customization
Morning Session:
- Introduction to Themes
- What are themes and why are they important?
- Overview of free vs. premium themes.
- Choosing the Right Theme
- Criteria for selecting a theme based on website needs.
- Resources for finding quality themes (official repositories, third-party providers).
Afternoon Session:
3. Hands-On: Installing and Activating Themes
- Step-by-step guide for installing themes on WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
- Activating and previewing new themes.
- Customizing Themes
- Using theme customizers and settings panels.
- Basic CSS tweaks for theme customization.
Day 4: Adding Content and Multimedia
Morning Session:
- Creating and Managing Content
- Creating pages and posts in WordPress, Joomla articles, and Drupal nodes.
- Organizing content with categories and tags.
- Adding Multimedia Elements
- Uploading and managing images, videos, and other media.
- Embedding multimedia content within posts and pages.
Afternoon Session:
3. Content Organization and Navigation
- Creating menus and navigation structures.
- Best practices for user-friendly navigation.
- Hands-On: Creating Sample Content
- Practical exercises in creating and organizing content across all three CMS platforms.
Day 5: Optimization and Performance
Morning Session:
- Website Performance Optimization
- Importance of website speed and performance.
- Techniques for optimizing website performance (caching, image optimization, minimizing HTTP requests).
- SEO Basics
- Introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
- On-page SEO techniques and best practices.
Afternoon Session:
3. Hands-On: SEO and Performance Optimization
- Implementing basic SEO strategies on WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
- Tools and plugins for performance optimization (e.g., caching plugins, image optimization tools).
- Mixed Content and Security
- Understanding mixed content issues and how to resolve them.
- Basic security practices (updating software, using secure passwords).
Day 6: Troubleshooting and Best Practices
Morning Session:
- Common CMS Issues and Solutions
- Identifying and resolving common CMS problems.
- Tools and resources for troubleshooting.
- Q&A and Real-World Scenarios
- Open forum for addressing specific participant questions and scenarios.
Afternoon Session:
3. Best Practices for CMS Management
- Regular maintenance tasks (backups, updates, security checks).
- Long-term strategies for managing and growing your website.
- Final Project and Review
- Participants work on a final project incorporating everything learned.
- Review and feedback session.
