School Website

For a school website, try implementing a custom WordPress theme. Should be more than sufficient and allow the school administrators to update the info regularly.
 
First things first:

1) How can someone put their trust in someone that doesn't know how to even design or develop a website?

2) How can someone put their trust in someone that doesn't know how to even design or develop a website?

3) How can someone put their trust in someone that doesn't know how to even design or develop a website?

4) Don't use WYSIWYG software, there's a reason why web developers learn HTML, CSS, Perl, Python, Java, PHP and etc.

5) You can develop an ENTIRE website with a normal text editor.

This kinda reminds me of looking at a Web Designers Portfolio and thinking to yourself, how did he manage to get his diploma....

I'm just kinda negative when it comes to organisations that can pay for a developer to do their site, but then in the end it'll look like a prit and bostic production.

I'm a full employed Graphic / Web Designer and Web Developer, I would give anything to go freelance. So this thread just made my day!:twisted:
 
ChristopherB said:
First things first:<snip>
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Well that wasn't really helpful at all. I know a number of people that built their school website. I think it's a great way to get your first exposure to the world of web development. School is after all a place to learn no?

@Mokusei: What are the requirements?
 
Mokusei said:
I don't think they want *.wordpress.com as their website address. That's pretty cheap-ass. Besides, there are no school admins. The techie that did that left, and the new one can't use any programming or web design languages. Hence our involvement.
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http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/
Makes it un-cheap-ass...


If there's no techies left, it's all the more reason to use Wordpress.
 
viven said:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/domain-mapping/
Makes it un-cheap-ass...


If there's no techies left, it's all the more reason to use Wordpress.
Click to expand...

I agree with ^the above^. If you don't want to be the one they call when you leave school for maintenance, and want them to be able to maintain it or pass on to another student easily (an obvious bonus), then I strongly recommend a CMS type solution. Wordpress would be an excellent choice.
 
"In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king" immediately springs to mind, without wanting to be too critical. While Christopher Becker's response wasn't perhaps helpful, his points are very valid, especially considering the OPs reply.

A Wordpress blog does not necessarily need to be hosted by Wordpress.com, you can download the software and self host. And it is perhaps one of the better options considering that the new 'techie' doesn't know any programming languages, since updates are made using the softwares own WYSIWYG editor, and very little web knowledge is needed (if you can use Word, then you'll easily be able to use Wordpress). HTML and CSS knowledge is needed in setting it up, and in designing a custom theme.
 
Come ON! Christopher! Maybe he is the most computer literate at the school AND willing to do the job. You are talking with hind sight.
At least he didn't come on strong like that other person and asking nicely..........
Sorry I don't know a thing about web sites. My first question would be whats html :-)
 
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It's not that I have anything against the person that wants to learn, anyone that's willing to learn will prosper and be great, because he is willing to be broken down in order to be rebuild into something great.

The truth hurts.

Anyway, it's like sitting right next to a hobo, street person and eating a lekker juicy Rump Steak, and staring at the hobo while you chew at the lovely tender meat.

Do you get what I'm saying?
 
And one more thing, why the fudge are you looking at setting up/maintaining/developing a website in your matric year???
I've no doubt you've got the skill, but surely there are other priorities..
 
Mokusei said:
Thanks for the vote of confidence. :)

What exactly do mean by requirements? Interface design requirements, plugins, etc?
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By requirements... I am asking what you need the website to do / show? Is it a platform for news / a simple info board about the school / a place for sport event results etc etc etc. What do you want to achieve by having the school website?

The biggest problem with school websites it the fact that they become irrelevant very quickly (i.e not updated frequently), so don't be too ambitious with the planning. I haven't seen very many with a lot of updating.
 
ChristopherB said:
Anyway, it's like sitting right next to a hobo, street person and eating a lekker juicy Rump Steak, and staring at the hobo while you chew at the lovely tender meat.

Do you get what I'm saying?
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Not at all i'm afraid. But you go ahead and trumpet about how you are a graphics / web designer and developer, and how this is an impossible task for Mokusei to complete by himself and his school mates. If you don't mind... in the mean time we'll suggest some viable alternatives for this fellow that don't require him or his school forking out for a professional web developer.
 
I would suggest you use a CMS- content management system like
joomla, wordpress or drupal
They are all opensource, and really simple to use. you can literally create blogs, shopping carts, polls and forums with a few clicks.

It took me two days to learn the software and create my first site, with absolutely no prior web experience.
I would however recommend that you buy a guide through take 2 or kalahari- in fact the text book I used
joomla a users guide
has a 30 page section that takes you step by step through creating a school website.

good luck
 
Mokusei said:
Thanks for everybody's advice and suggestions! I really appreciate it. :) :)

Hey, that sounds like a great idea. I've just downloaded WordPress 3.0.4 (the latest version) and will try to look for some guides online, but if that textbook does include school website tutorials specifically, then Joomla might be the answer. Thanks a lot ave. :D
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Keep us up to date by posting back your progress here. We can offer some suggestions along the way. Best of luck.
 
 
I have to agree with ChristopherB. When I make a website I take time to think about the design, user interface, development, cross browser development, seo etc. I make sure I put all my effort into a web site cause is a huge job. Those 1 click site in a day is all bull****.

You can clearly see what sites are ****ty instant sites and what sites have been really thought out and designed properly.

It is annoying to see people suggest stuff like using wordpress.com. What you should be doing is learning HTML and CSS. This could take between 1 week and 2 months to learn 100% without having to google every time something looks weird. The design alone normally takes me a day to a week and I have been designing for ever. For someone to think they can make a site quick and attractive without any previous knowledge is an insult to all the people that truly have a passion for the web.

This is such a huge problem in South Africa. Everyone wants to do it themselves and end up shooting themselves and their company in the foot cause the site does not look good or work properly.

Long story short if you want to learn great. Spend a year learning and perfecting your skill like most web designers have then you can start doing client work.
 
I think some of you guys are taking it a bit hard when you say its like an insult to you. With that logic you can claim that most programs using a click and drag interface are an insult to all programmers who used good ol' C/C++ etc. Where as I agree with you that if you are serious about web development then learning the fundamentals is a must but these tools are there for a reason, to make things easier for people.
 
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