Go to WordPress.com and get a FREE account. DO NOT pay for any options, including a domain name–you don’t need one yet. Use your @maine.edu email account–this will allow you to access ALL NMD class WordPress sites eventually, as well as your portfolio. Choose a username that your classmates & prof will recognize. You can use the SAME password for all WordPress sites and/or update them all to match–makes logging in much easier.

Once you create a WordPress site, you should be able to login at WordPress.com using your email address. You can also get a direct login URL via email. (you just need to give it your @maine.edu email, then in the email sent to you, insert your wordpress password).

You can QuickStart your design by using a free Theme.   Once you choose a theme,  you can set it via the WordPress Dashboard. Got to dashboard: Appearance–>Themes. Then choose a theme and activate it. 

Create three pages (which you will customize later) with these three titles:

1. Home
2. Posts
3. About Me 

Do this via Dashboard–>Pages–>Add New.

Choose Blank Page then use Home for Add Title  then Publish via upper right blue button (click this twice if needed). Do the same for Posts and About Me

Next, go to Dashboard:  Settings–>Reading and  under “Your homepage displays” select Home. and “Default posts page” select Posts 

SAVE SETTINGS

Next, go to Dashboard: Posts–>Categories, and Add Category. All are top level Categories now, but can be changed later:

1. NMD 100
2. NMD 104
3. NMD 105
4. NMD 106

And also:

1. Graphics
2. Photos
3. Videos
4. Animation
5. Webdesign

Create two posts in a similar way as you created Pages, using Dashboard: Posts–>Add New.  

Use these tiles:

1. My first graphic
2. My best photos

For 1, add category “NMD 104” and “Graphic”

For 2, add category”NMD 100″ and “Photos” 

You will use these to create menus and a website structure.

Note: the method for adding a menu can vary by theme. What follows is the most advanced option, though you may choose a different technique than what follows by looking in your Theme Settings.

Go to Dashboard: Appearance > Customize > Menu.  You will create two menus, but only use the first one now.

Then click the “Create a New Menu” button, call it “Main” select “Primary Navigation”, then click on “Next”

Next click on “Add items” and add ALL the categories related to NMD courses, like “NMD 100” “NMD 104”. 

Repeat these steps to create a second menu called “Portfolio” in which you add the genre categories like “Graphic” or “Animation”–you will use this later when you transition from a class-based website to a career-based website, with one click.

Also, add your “About Me” page to your menu