Class Blog: Login Instructions
This page introduces students to the procedures for logging into the class blog. For first-time users, it is important to read the entire page. Not only does it contain a user name and password neccessary to connect to the blog, but it also explains how to register, which must be done before students can begin posting to the blog.
1. Initial Login: Connecting to the Class Blog on the Host Server
Clicking here or on the link at the bottom of the page will take you to your class blog. However, before the blog will load in your browser, you will be prompted for a user name and password. Use the following login information, which is case and space sensitive. It is important to remember that whenever you try to access the class blog, you will need to use both this server login information and the WordPress login you will create by registering to use the blog.
User Name: supplied by instructor
Password: supplied by instructor
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The look of the first login prompt may vary from browser to browser. The one pictured to the left is the prompt seen by users of Firefox. Pay attention to the different appearance of the server and WordPress login screens. When the connection to the blog has been idle for awhile, users may be prompted to login again to either the server or the blog. Recognizing the two different login windows will help you know which user name and password to use. |
2. Registering: Creating a WordPress Login
After connecting to the server, the home page of your class blog will load in your browser. Although you can now read the blog, before you can begin adding content, you will need to become a registered user. To do this, click on the Register link circled in the picture below. The link should usually appear in the list of Meta links in the lower right of the home page, but please note that should the class decide to use a different template for the blog, the location and appearance of the Register link might change.
You must then supply your own user name and e-mail address in the next window. Be sure to choose an e-mail address you regularly check as the password will be mailed to that account. Also, when students and instructors comment on your posts to the blog, you will be notified of new comments with messages sent to the e-mail addressed supplied here.
You should receive the following message verifying the successful completion of the registration process. Please remember your own user name as you will have to use this every time you login.
Once you have retrieved the system-supplied password from your e-mail, you may then complete the login process.
3. WordPress Login
From the home page of the blog, you can access the login screen from the Login link circled in red below. As with the Register link, the location and appearance of the link might change depending on the template the instructor chooses to use for the class blog.
The WordPress login screen appears to the right. In the appropriate boxes, enter the user name created during the registration process and the password e-mailed to you by WordPress. Clicking on the Login button will complete the process and take you to the Dashboard, the control panel for the blog from which you can begin posting to the class blog. |
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4. Updating Your User Profile and Changing Your Password
Once completing the WordPress login, you will be taken to the WordPress Dashboard screen from which you can begin adding content to the site by clicking on the appropriate links. However, before adding content to the blog for the first time, please update your user profile so that the instructor can correctly identify your contributions to the blog for grading purposes. From the Dashboard, click on either one of the Profile links circled in red.
After the screen entitled Your Profile and Personal Options appears, please add your first and last names to your profile. This is especially important for those students having user names and e-mail addresses that bear no relationship to your real name. You may also change your password if you so choose. After providing the needed information, click on the Update Profile button in the lower right of the screen.
4. How Do I Use WordPress?
At present, Ecampus only provides minimal support for using the most basic WordPress features, such as adding a post, adding a link, and adding an image. To see this help, click here.
WordPress also has extensive support at wordpress.org. However, be aware that many of the features available from WordPress are not available on the class blog at this time. Nevertheless, in order to improve the use of WordPress within Ecampus for future classes, please let your instructor know of any features you think should be included with the class blogs.
5. Where is the Blog?
If you have read the above login instructions, you may begin blogging by clicking here.