WordPress


 * [|www. wordpress.org]**


 * WordPress 2.0** is a free, open-sourced blogging platform written in PHP. It has been around for approximately 10 years and is fast becoming one of the most popular blogging platforms on the web. The primary software for download is WordPress 2.0 which is a single-user blogging application. Currently a Muliple User WordPress (WPMU) is being beta-tested.


 * Security Levels:**
 * 1) With the ability to host WordPress on your own server, one can add multiple plugins that can add a variety of security levels and functionality to the blog.
 * 2) User determines the level of security on the blog which can range from being totally password protected -- to requiring a password to post and make comments -- to allowing anyone to post a comment.
 * 3) Because WordPress 2.0 is very similar to Edublogs (see product comparison on left) much of the information written there will apply here as well.
 * Ease of Use:**
 * 1) Wordpress 2.0, once loaded on the server, is as easy to use as Edublogs because essentially it is the same software. The "Back end" or Administrative Area for both blogging platforms are identitcal.
 * 2) WordPress 2.0 is easy to create posts and easy to post comments
 * 3) Images are easily uploaded and posted
 * 4) Files such as MP3, DOC and PDF files can easily be uploaded to blog posts
 * 5) Because this is WordPress 2.0, one has the ablity to install separate plugins which allow for additional functionality and file installations (ie videos, Flash content, javascript, CSS, connectivity to off sites like del.icio.us, etc.)
 * 6) FYI: Plugins are easy to install. Once uploaded to the "plugin folder" they are then activated.
 * Set-Up:**
 * 1) Best with a dedicated Unix server to run the PHP files
 * 2) However there are dozens of examples and tech articles on the web explaining how to run WordPress on an IIS server
 * 3) Since WPMU is still being beta tested, WordPress 2.0 is the most stable way to go in terms of installing this blogging platform ourselves. This requires creating a directory for each user and installing Wordpress 2.0 in each directory. I realize this is cumbersome, but again, i have read articles on the web detailing how to make the process simpler when trying to set-up many blogs in a corporation or school.
 * Look & Feel:**
 * 1) With the use of hundreds of themes and plugins, the blog has the ability to look and function any way the user decided.
 * 2) One way to handle this might be for the district to set-up a default loadset with approved themes and plugins. When installed, the teacher already has these themes and plugins to choose from.
 * Cost:**
 * 1) Open source & free

Examples of teacher and classrooms using Wordpress 2.0


 * 1) [|marchionda.org/]
 * 2) [|www.albany.k12.ca.us/blogs/fran.sheppard/]
 * 3) [|class.huffenglish.com/]