WordPress.com, also known as WordPress, is a blogging platform run on a modified version of WordPress.org, an open source piece of software used by bloggers. You can start a blog in seconds without any website building or technical knowledge.

What can it do?

• Create and replace a static HTML Web site with a dynamic WordPress.com blog
• Write posts into the website and other people reading the post can write comments about it
• Provide plugins for WordPress.com Business users

Uses in a Course

• Use your blog to post discussion questions and have the students conduct the discussion in the comments. It is even possible to allow threading of comments by using some plugins.
• Have students create blogs and post their writing assignments and collect feedback from classmates or outside experts through the comments.
• It is possible for you to add users to your blog as authors thus giving you the ability to have remote experts participate in the course by leading discussions. Similarly, remote experts can participate through commenting without having to be added as authors.

Access

• The College hosts Voices–a WordPress multi-site installation where faculty and students can create sites.
• Visit https://wordpress.com for alternative blog plans for personal use.

Additional Help

• Student Technology Assistants are available to help at the Digital Media Bar in Andrews Library in the CoRE
• Educational Technology provides support and training on WordPress and Voices
• WordPress about the new Gutenberg editing platform
• Getting Started with Gutenberg (YouTube)
• WordPress.com offers support & FAQ