The blogging and social network worlds are quickly growing in industries all over and education is no different. This session will allow attendees to learn how to safely set up an environment for both students and teachers to blog, communicate and learn. Attendees will be able see the setup and configuration of BuddyPress, hear use cases to take back to their classrooms and learn about new plugins that can really allow communities to take off.
5. XAMPP
XAMPP is an easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL,
PHP and Perl. XAMPP is really very easy to install and to use - just
download, extract and start.
http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
6. Choose your operating system &
download
• Mac
– XAMPP Mac OS X 1.7.3 Universal Binary
• Windows
– Installer
7. BuddyPress Is...
• Social networking in a box
• A plugin for WordPress (leading web software that you can
use to create a beautiful website or blog)
• Completely free and open source
• GPL (Users are allowed to copy, modify, and redistribute GPL
software)
• Completely in your control
• Change the look
• Add new functionality
9. Features
Fully customizable profiles. Allow your
students to fill in whatever fields suit your
class. (Grade Level, Interests, and much
Activity streams (Facebook Wall ),
more!)
commenting, liking and @mentions (like
Twitter)
Allow groups or students to collaborate with
Allow students to become friends. They can each other privately with a full messaging
collaborate, share and follow each others system.
activity.
10. Features
Full WordPress Blogging! Allow students to
publish their thoughts and work with their
very own blogs.
Fully powered discussion forums built allow
for more conventional in-depth conversations.
11. You can use it to enable
students to...
• communicate and work in groups
• Bring communication to a Facebook-like format that students are
familiar with.
• blog and publish their work
• Classes can post papers as blog posts and students can leave
comments.
• Share videos, pictures and recaps of different classroom activities/
experiments.
• Students can journal their thoughts allowing for the tracking of
progress throughout a semester.
• have a central hub for exchanging information
• List all the resources and communication in one clean place.
12. The Academic Commons of The City University of New
York is designed to support faculty initiatives and build
community through the use(s) of technology in teaching
and learning…
..Creating networks and support systems that are
enabled by easy access to quality digital resources will
nurture faculty development through sharing replicable - About CUNY (City University of
materials and best practices. New York) Academic Commons
13. • People
• Groups
• Forums
• Blogs
• Wiki
• News & Information
14. So how do I get started?
• BuddyPress needs WordPress
• BuddyPress and WordPress (and other web software)
require a webhost - a service that allows you to make your
website accessible to the Internet.
15. WordPress.com recommends
o Blue Host
o Network Solutions
o GoDaddy.com
o MediaTemple
o DreamHost
http://get.wp.com/hosting/
16. Long Term:
• Your school may provide hosting resources
17. Today..
• You can setup a server for testing on your own
computer.
o XAMPP
18. Q&A
• Feel free to ask any questions before we begin configuring our
own test server and BuddyPress installation.
• You will need the file we downloaded at the beginning of this
talk.
19. • Windows
– Install and start Apache and MySQL
20. • Mac
– Open the DMG-Image
– Drag and Drop the XAMPP folder into your Applications
folder.
– Start XAMPP by opening the XAMPP Control Panel and start
Apache and MySQL.
21. Test It
• Open up your favorite browser and type http://localhost/
into the address bar.
• Questions? Need Help? Let me know.
22. Create a database
From http://localhost/ click English and phpMyAdmin under
Tools
Type wordpress in for the database name and click create.
23. WordPress
WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful
website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and
priceless at the same time. – WordPress.org
http://wordpress.org/download/
25. Mac Only:
• Control + Click and Select Get Info on
the WordPress folder.
• Set everyone to have Read & Write
access under Sharing & Permissions –
needed for the installation.
26. Installing WordPress
• Visit http://localhost/wordpress/
• Click Create a Configuration File
• Click Let’s go!
• Click Run the install
Your database connection
details:
• Database name:
wordpress
• User Name: root
• Password: (nothing)
28. • Click Log In
• Enter your account information and hit
Log In again.
31. Adding the BuddyPress Plugin
Drag into your WordPress
folder s wp-content/
plugins/ folder.
http://buddypress.org/download/
Depending on your host and
configuration, you can also try
adding the plugin with the Add
New button and searching for
BuddyPress.
48. You can also allow students
to register themselves.
This creates a Sign Up link and form on your site.
49. Adding Plugins / Themes
• BuddyPress supports plugins just like WordPress.
• You can expand the functionality of your site very easily.
• BuddyPress plugins install the same way WordPress plugins
install ( drag and drop or add new ).
• BuddyPress themes can be installed like plugins (into wp-
content/themes/)
http://buddypress.org/extend/plugins/
52. So what can I do with my social network?
• Anything!
– Install plugins, post information, change the site all you want!
– Allow students to post their work, communicate, get to know each
other, and have a central hub for your class.
– Replace older systems like Vista or Blackboard.
• Do you have any ideas for using BuddyPress in your classroom?
– Please share!
54. What if I need help?
• Feel free to email me anytime: justin@automattic.com
• Find me on Twitter @justinshreve
• http://justin.gs/contact/
• Grab my business card before you go!