The Internet’s Own Boy

Here is an extra-credit reflection post that can be completed at any point in the semester.

(please watch the video either way as it is important)

I would like you to watch the portrait documentary of Aaron Swartz, The Internet’s Own Boy. Swartz was a prodigy web developer that participated in some seminal web projects – RSS, Creative Commons licensing, and Reddit.

He founded Demand Progress which successfully campaigned against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) with a broadly adopted 24 hour internet blackout of well know sites like Wikipedia. Swartz was later arrested by M.I.T. police for systematically downloading thousands of academic articles from JSTOR and federally prosecuted with charges of wire fraud and 11 violations of the Computer Abuse and Fraud Act. Facing a possible long term jail time, Swartz committed suicide at the age of 26.

Larry Lessig who was a mentor, colleague, and friend to the much younger Swartz commemorated his life and work with Lessig’s appointment as a Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School with a lecture titled “Aaron’s Laws: Law and Justice in a Digital Age.” 

**Extra-Credit Assignment Details – In a new blog post express your feelings and interpretations about the video. Find a moment in either the documentary about Swartz or the Lessig talk that you relate to as an important idea/moment in Swartz’s work as a programmer and/or activist. Tell us why you find it significant and find or create a visual artifact that represents your thinking as well and embed it in the post.

Its Mid-Semester Assessment Time!

Wow, here we are at the midpoint of our CT101 semester! Time… goes by waaaaaay too fast.. Lets take a minute to reflect, lets take a minute to regroup, lets induce a class reflection and stretch it through out this week.

**Important Info – This assignment should be completed and published by our next class meeting time**

*Zoom Recording / Tutorial from class on 10/19:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/sE4qRiSpJwZi_hBizpmzQH6DYKg7KRY4CPMPBB1nWQcOT6fA7Na_EiZnTGgv3pho.HvE-EIA-B2UYYJdd

Passcode: GGk3^mCg

Let us begin and ask ourselves the following questions, and reflect:

“How am I doing in CT101? What have I learned? What skills have I developed, cultivated and displayed regularly? How does the class format contribute to my weekly progress?

How do I measure my performance through self-reflection in this class?”

The measurement part is tangible and clear as we have been producing results over the last 6 weeks in the form of publishing our assignments through blogging, commenting on our classmates work, creating visual imagery and participating in our class zoom sessions.

Lets take stock on what we have accomplished and organize those tangible things into a new post – follow me below,

The CT 101 Course Schedule page is where everything is – this is the CT 101 HUB – this is the space where all the assignment criteria and learning details take form each week – (just in case you forgot) – this is also where you can recap and catch up on assignments. The CT101 homepage is where you can read and comment on your classmates work. The feed of posts is all chronologically ordered –  https://ct101.commons.gc.cuny.edu/

The Mid-Semester Assessment post is assignment #6 – let us move down to the assignment details. 

Assignment Details:

In a new blog post titled; “The Mid-Semester Assessment Post”:

Please assess and reflect upon your last 6.5 weeks here in CT 101. Please answer and address all of the following questions below, and also provide a list of hyperlinks back to all of your completed blog posts. This will help illustrate some of the questions below as you tell this compelling story here in the CT 101 blog space: (of course, the use of imagery is helpful and needed but please don’t default to using too many GIFs or memes to fill in the gaps, the emphasis should be on the balance of imagery and the written word.)

Questions to include and answer:

How am I doing in CT101?

What grade do I believe I am maintaining and what evidence shows my assessment?  (List each completed blog post as a hyperlink and also state what assignments you are missing)

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

What new skills have I developed, cultivated and displayed regularly in my posts?

Aside from publishing my blog post assignments, how do I assess my participation, commenting, and discussion performance in this class?

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain how –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

Have fun with this! Feel free to include relatedness in the form of links, images, video or Make Something New to express how you feel about this post! 

**Important Info – This assignment should be completed and published by our next class meeting time**

Assignment #4 – There is A LOT of CT101, Digital Storytelling Assignment Flexibility..

Zoom tutorial from class on 10/5:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/8sB4SpHuV1GVCoBWn3fBB_UWa7PFnDpAwIhPEhhASleSxru9YkRE8GY5hXqoi37K.vvhQCEiiwo38Erf4

Passcode: du32Me#G

Professor Michael Smith introduced me to the DS106 Assignment Repository many many years ago.. I am glad that he did! 

Now that we are getting comfortable with publishing blog posts to our class website, crafting narratives, embedding media like images, GIFS, videos and hyperlinks, its time to push things further with digital tools and content creation. Its also time for you to decide on “how” you will go about it. 

Prof. Smith wrote the following in a blog post from a previous semester;

“In CT-101 you will have the opportunity to create many, many different pieces of media throughout the semester. Inspiration for these projects can come from a number of places. Two sources are websites that inspired this class and are hosted by a digital storytelling class at the University of Mary Washington.

One example is their ds106 assignment repository which has project prompts that are categorized by a variety of media types to choose from – (visual, design, audio, video, mashup, writing, fanfic, and animated gifs). You can browse through and sort by most examples completed, most viewed, newest, and more.. 

The second is also a site known as the daily create which gives a daily project prompt to “make something” using various forms of media. Finally you can also find a particular site that has a media piece and/or project type of interest to you (Tumblr and/or Reddit can be fun for this – Photoshop Battles is a favorite of mine.

Browse through these sites and find two projects that you think you would like to do. One that you believe you already have the skills to do or you believe you could figure out on your own. And another (hopefully of a different media type) that you don’t know how to do yet and would like to learn.

*The ASSIGNMENT (#4) – In a New Blog Post – working from the DS106 or the Daily Create website select, describe and hyperlink to two assignments/projects that you like and tell us why you’ve chosen them. You will complete one of the assignments in full.

What do you think you’d need learn to do them? How many of these kinds of projects do you think you should be doing in this semester so that you might learn and build both emergent storytelling skills and use new tools to create them? Why do you think these skills are or are not important?

*Be sure to actually complete one of the assignments and add it to your blog post.*

Also, be sure to leave a comment or two on one or more of your classmate’s blog posts! Prof. Seslow will go over a example in our class time and screen record the process.

Zoom tutorial from class on 10/5:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/8sB4SpHuV1GVCoBWn3fBB_UWa7PFnDpAwIhPEhhASleSxru9YkRE8GY5hXqoi37K.vvhQCEiiwo38Erf4

Passcode: du32Me#G

Are Internet Memes ART? 

Let’s discuss! You know that you want to!

**The Zoom class video recording and tutorial for Week #4 will be posted below and at the bottom of this blog post**

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/aNfIUA7lWIFDDaSacYwuTrPB4aFpkxCmvJXRyKQ2nr5wGCQ_YNn6_47JozDZ69BV.V-_dvjCHXD3Ss0BZ

Passcode-  .@f5nwcw

First – (lets screen the video above in class and then later read the article below for more context. In your blog post assignment, you should refer to the video the video and essay for context, what was useful or important?)

Second – The Assignment Details: A New Blog Post is in order.

Start by doing an Internet search for; “Are memes ART?” – See what you discover, gather those links and be prepared to share them in your post. No matter how you cut it, memes are here to stay… but is this good or bad for Art? Is this good or bad for communication? Are memes simply just forms of self-expression? Or are they MORE? Well, why or why not? I want to know what you think. Lets create a compelling way to share our response. And by all means plan to create, search for, discover and share your favorite existing Memes via an image or URL, or embed them into your new blog post for this coming week. How will you craft a narrative between using Memes and your own personal experiences?

**Oh, and, you MUST create at least 1 of your own memes to also express your sentiments for our CT101 class! Be sure to include the words “CT101” in your meme!

Perhaps, you will say “CT101 be like…”

OR, “What if I told you that CT101….”

All of this nestles quite well into in new Blog post! (thats your assignment!) Please consider the formatting of this blog post that you are reading right now. Notice how we see a mixture of images, video and hyperlinks that help give context and reference to where we are drawing resources from. (wink wink – you all need this reminder).

Some Online Tools for making Memes:

Giphy.com – (create a free account)

Imgur.com – (create a free account)

Make a Meme – work with some of the Internet’s classic templates

Mashable’s top 6 Meme Maker Picks – various tools

Are there more MEME making tools that you know about? Add them both to your post as also in the comments section below so that others may also learn about them.

More Insight on MEMEs:

The Wiki Definition(s)

A good synopsis via how-to-geek.com

Another Take via theVerge.com

————————————————–

***The CT101 Meme Project will later be exhibited on the NET-ART website as a collaboration project!  More details coming soon – Check out some of the other projects on display there now – https://netart.commons.gc.cuny.edu/galleries-exhibitions/

————————————————–

Are Memes the Pop Culture Art of our Era? Kate Knibbs

Read the essay above and draw insight and context from it.

(I know, I know, its a dream come true assignment!)

Have fun!

**The Zoom class video recording and tutorial for Week #4 will be posted below after class on 9/28

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/aNfIUA7lWIFDDaSacYwuTrPB4aFpkxCmvJXRyKQ2nr5wGCQ_YNn6_47JozDZ69BV.V-_dvjCHXD3Ss0BZ

Passcode-  .@f5nwcw

Making our first GIF & GIF Post Narratives!

Assignment #2 – 

(Here is the video recording from zoom on 9/21 / the how-to access and make GIFS with Giphy / Imgur tutorial is below and also placed into blog post above) 

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/PEWUAfNHkqv-FFYpvbUAiZRkH2hrDWPGgaJPSDMjkQBJgNW-rR8UYBPwebsb_fnK.Djs05XUNuEPu-Mfw

Video Passcode: Wb!jKw2d

Exciting times! Lets make some GIFS and explore the history, contexts and potentials of this Internet Culture Sensation! GIFs are obviously here to stay! How far will they go?

Will there be a Museum dedicated to animated GIFs in the near future?

You Betcha!

But First, and Importantly:

What makes a successful, compelling and engaging Blog Post?

We have a contrast and a result to work from now that we have published out first assignment, looking back, did you cover all of these aspects listed below? (You can always edit and update your existing posts! I highly encourage this as revising your work is a strong skill set to have!)

Good Blogging:

• is thoughtful with your post titles –  How will your audience know what the post is about if you don’t make this clear and engaging?
• giving your opinions, feelings, insights & philosophies – Ct101 is a platform for you to share, express and discover the potentials of creative writing through various media formats and narratives.
• backing up your resources, inspiration and research with links, we need to see where the information has come from.
• proof reading your grammar and punctuation. Its OK to work stylistically, but it should be kept consistent.
• and always embedding cool media that’s made or found from elsewhere to give context and keep the audience engaged.
• what could we add to this list?

And now, lets talk GIFs!

(you can click on the images above and they will re-direct you to their websites. I did this by selecting the “custom URL” option in the media / image uploading specifications area and added the URL)

Imgur and Giphy are great platforms to explore and create GIFS with! They have a HUGE repository to choose from! In our Zoom class this week (week #3) lets check out both of these platforms in a series of live video tutorials, both Imgur & Giphy are free to use and work with. (You can sign up for your own account, both are free – having an account makes it easier to work with the applications.) Lets experiment with both platforms this week as we work on this new post. Be sure to share your thoughts on what you think about both platforms, did one work better for you? If so, what were those features?

**Below –

(Here is the video recording from zoom on 9/21 / the how-to access and make GIFS with Giphy / Imgur tutorial is below and also placed into blog post above) 

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/PEWUAfNHkqv-FFYpvbUAiZRkH2hrDWPGgaJPSDMjkQBJgNW-rR8UYBPwebsb_fnK.Djs05XUNuEPu-Mfw

Video Passcode: Wb!jKw2d

*The Assignment Details:

Lets publish a NEW BLOG POST of your own and also leave a few comments on one of your Classmate’s GIF Posts from assignment #2!

This week – lets create a NEW blog post on our class website and embed a series of new Reaction GIF s that narrates your feelings about our CT101 class so far! How can you tell the story of your personal experience in GIFs so far?

Think about these questions to address in your post:

What did you think on the first day of the CT101?

Did you like hearing about the course and its creative content?

How does CT101 compare to some of your other classes?

Also, address what the potentials of this class are?!

(yes, you can make this post as long you wish and make it flow like a story – This assignment description that you are reading is also a BLOG post example of the assignment!)

Each reaction GIF that you use should be accompanied by a sentence or two or three of verbiage to help describe the GIF and narrative you are communicating.

**And be sure to also comment on one of your Classmate’s GIF Posts!

Here is an example of me responding in GIF expressing above : “Demonstrations and examples will be shared and executed in our class Zoom lab time, don’t miss it!” (and if you do miss it, Ill post the video tutorial from class here below) Sinister audio fades in and out as Skeletor GIFs himself into oblivion!

Lets get started!

**PS – Here is a handy tutorial on how to make a GIF from a YouTube URL using Imgur from Prof. Smith a few years back –  My first GIF post

How do you say it / pronounce it? Gi-f or Ji-f?

The battle continues! And the Internet will not ever let us 

Oh, and what about some GIF history?

Here is the WIKI for the GIF file format – its a good read.

Smithsonian – History of the GIF

Mashables take on the History of the GIF

A good article for WIRED on the 30th Birthday of the GIF

Week #2 – Recap & Forward Motion!

Video recording from our zoom class on 9/14

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Y_oB7eIDmfSQJFISLuvq5stFLcVUkaFUXlUDIoHmoFLnR651-L0gh_F58kRQjA72.pwn6oSVFtIVyv_SE

Passcode: ms#54*Ac

The Course Schedule page is here (this is the most important page as it hosts all of our weekly assignments and their specifications)

1. Did you Read the welcome blog post here <–it asks you to leave a comment, did you? 

2. Did you Sign up for the CUNY commons and the CT101 website? Review the process for access to the CUNY commons and the CT101 website here –this post has the “how-to” video tutorial link  – Read this blog post for details < —

This week, its time to get blogging! Lets learn our WordPress blogging interface, how to add text, images, GIFs, videos, hyperlinks and contextual content! Lets share some sentiments accompanied by visual media to tell our stories.

(a video recording from class will be placed here soon)

This week’s Assignment…

Assignment #1 – What Makes You Happy on the Internet?

Video recording from our zoom class on 9/14

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Y_oB7eIDmfSQJFISLuvq5stFLcVUkaFUXlUDIoHmoFLnR651-L0gh_F58kRQjA72.pwn6oSVFtIVyv_SE

Passcode: ms#54*Ac

Your goal for this week will be to read and follow the info / links listed in this blog post for Week #2. Absorb the information and then begin to prepare and gather all of needed media, images, links and content to create and publish your first blog post here on our class website!

(This assignment was originally created by Professor Michale Smith a few years ago, it still holds true as a great example and ice-breaker for our first blogging assignment.)

In a new blog post, take the time to introduce anything you want about yourself and describe a piece, or multiple pieces of the internet that is “making you happy” this week. Share what the content is about, the media format, and the online space in which is was discovered. Let us know why this (or these things) make you happy! Make sure it’s something you can ’embed’ in your post and be sure to link back to the original source of the the item (hyperlink).

Below is an example:

I discovered recently a writer who made side-by-side comparisons of frames from the Simpsons with frames from the original movies that inspired the cartoon. I love this kind work because it shows how culture is seemingly endlessly recycled and remixed.

Also, here’s a video short from the original, famous “shower scene” from the 1960 film Psycho that the inspiration is drawn from.

For an example of “how” your assignment #1 post can look, check out professor Seslow’s example here : https://ct101.commons.gc.cuny.edu/assignment-1-example-fun/

Getting Signed Up and Signed in to the CT101 Website & the CUNY Academic Commons.

Welcome Digital Storytellers!

Please follow along with me during our zoom class session to get signed up for both the CUNY Academic Commons and for this website, follow me and scroll down.. (or watch the video recording later – posted here after class)

Video Recording – the “Sign Up” Process – 

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/gAD2qGKZMaLI5QpQr_TGUhBBspsUgO3oMKuaWNB7NKTo8NJ-rm519FDBAjKQUGE1.bQ2l32MPyPbbmFjO

Video Passcode: *yF8wr+X

As we know, a big part of CT101 is the class the website. It is where you will begin your active role as an “Author” of our CT101 community and where you will be publishing all of your class work and assignments. You will also become a part of the CUNY Academic Commons Community (Im a big fan!)

**First things first, It is super important for you to have access to your York College E-mail Address, and to make sure it works! 

You will need to have access to it in order to sign up for our CT101 web site and the CUNY academic commons. If you need assistance with setting this up do not hesitate to contact the York College help desk at 718-262-5300 as needed or at helpdesk@york.cuny.edu

Lets Get Started!

We must follow the sign up steps in the order below (I will demonstrate the process in our Zoom class on 8/31 and record it to post here after class.)

Video Recording – the “Sign Up” Process – 

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/gAD2qGKZMaLI5QpQr_TGUhBBspsUgO3oMKuaWNB7NKTo8NJ-rm519FDBAjKQUGE1.bQ2l32MPyPbbmFjO

Video Passcode: *yF8wr+X

*Remember, you must use your CUNY e-mail address for this only!

1. We will Sign Up for the CUNY Academic Commons Here – simply click the  “Register” button and fill in the form and complete the sign up! You will receive an e-mail that verifies your account. 

2. After you sign up for the CUNY Academic Commons, please Sign-Up for the CT101 website and use the SAME Username and e-mail address that used to sign up for the CUNY Academic Commons –  into this form <– this info will allow for me to send you a direct invite request from our class website to become an Author of the website. Please accept the invite when it arrives via e-mail. 

And then….

You will have access to “log in” and start blogging as a CT101 author. The log-in prompt is always located in the main navigation menu area of the website – depending on the device that you are viewing the site in, you will see it in upper right hand corner of the page via desktop or laptops, but mobile devices may see the log in prompt on the left side of the page, either way, click “Log In” and enter your Log In credentials. 

VIDEO Tutorial:: I will place the screen recording of this process from class on 8/31 here once our class is over.

**You cant start publishing content here on CT101 until you have completed the sign up process steps above.

More to come!

This week, lets delve into copyright…

So, What is copyright?

From the content below (and there is a lot of great stuff to explore) please select a blogging prompt to respond to – you should respond to at least one but of course you can respond to all of them!

Why is there copyright?

How much should users of the web think about copyright as you and others share, re-share, and remix content on the web?

What is fair use? Think about these questions and watch Larry Lessig’s TEDTalk  – How creativity is being strangled by the law. 

*You can publish your work here on CT101 OR your personal website and then share that link on CT101*

**Assignment Option #1– In a new blog post, find a quote from the Larry Lessig talk (link above) that you find compelling and tell us why. Also respond to the questions posed above. 

As a further reflection on “fairness” and fair use consider two cases that actually tangled with the legal system under copyright law. First, Andy Baio a software developer for Kickstarter writes and speaks about his experience being sued by a photographer and is forced to settle and pay thousands of dollars. This is despite the fact he believes the law is on his side and so does his pro-bono counsel the EFF.

https://www.creativemornings.com/talks/andy-baio/2  <- link to the video

Second famous appropriation artist Richard Prince is sued by photographer Patrick Cariou for Prince’s use of Cariou’s photographs in a number of collages. At first the courts sided with Cariou the photographer, but then on the appeals court reversed the decision in favor of the Prince’s remixes being fair use.

**Assignment Option #2 – In a new blog post, find a quote from both Andy Baio’s case and Richard Prince’s case that you agree with, disagree with, or both. Tell us why. Also tell us whether you think law around fair use is working. How would you change copyright law and fair use if you were in charge. 

**Assignment Option #3– In a new blog post – Digital Storytelling Prompt on Fair Use – Create an image, GIF, video, and/or piece of audio that reworks a quote and/or image found in any of the linked essays or videos above. Think about possibly creating a poster that uses an image and quote (https://photopea.com will help). Or create a video or audio remix that samples from the Andy Baio and/or Larry Lessig talks. Or maybe come up with something on your own that is inspired by these discussions. In your post, remember to use hyper-links to reference texts incorporated in your work as well as give context to the work.

Have Fun!

CT101 Final Blog Post & Course Completion Information

**Please read all of the information below carefully & mark your calendars**

Please e-mail me with any questions at – rseslow@york.cuny.edu

Im always here to help.

Here we are in the final week of our Spring 2021 semester. I wanted to get things set in advance to help and give everyone enough time to complete or revise assignments, catch up and feel confident about our course completion. Please know, I am here to help in anyway that I can. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Please know, it is not too late to catchup if you are a bit or even far behind. We can work together!

The last day of classes is Monday May 17th, Tuesday May 18th is a reading day and regular classes do not meet – However, I will be hosting a live Zoom session scheduled for Tuesday May 18th from 10AM -12PM to serve as a platform for those who have specific questions, need help with troubleshooting their websites and helping with clarify anything to help us complete the semester. (the zoom link info is the same as always) As you know, the Zoom sessions are not mandatory but serve as a synchronous space for our class meetings. Most class sessions have video tutorials that are recorded and added to the weekly blog posts on our class calendar page here.

**Please read all of the information below carefully & mark your calendars**

**Final Blog Post Submission Guidelines**

Please make sure you follow each step below –

*Each student will write and publish a Final Course Reflection Blog Post.

You will publish this post to the CT101 website. You will e-mail the direct link of your final blog post reflection to me – rseslow@york.cuny.edu – no later than Wednesday May 26th by 12 pm – Noon, please. 

***Please do not publish or e-mail the final blog post link to me before Thursday May 20th. This post and submission process is to be done during final exams week and serves as our final exam.***

*The e-mail subject should say: “CT101 Final Blog Post/Your First & Last Name”

Here is the e-mail subject example – CT101 Final Blog Post / Ryan Seslow

Here is an example below for finding a blog post’s direct URL – (this is the direct link to the text you see at the moment in the web browser address bar at the top of the browser) The post must be published in order to copy it and paste it into your e-mail to me – it would look something like this below.

*Your final blog post is Mandatory, it serves as our final exam and final project and it must include the information stated below:

Your final blog post will be a detailed narrative and re-cap of what you have learned in CT101, and a reflection and assessment of what grade you have earned in our class and why you deserve that grade? (Yes, you must include this part!) 

What did you enjoy about our class and how you will apply your new skills into the world?

Will you maintain and keep up your new website? If so, how? If not, Why not?

Your final blog post should include a culmination of supporting images, GIFs, hyperlinks and writing. Please let this post display the best of your skills sets learned and applied! (The post must include more than 1 single image, GIFs, Hyperlinks and supporting Verbiage! Make it your BEST work!)

*Final Website Link & Description –  As a part of the final blog post each student will be sharing their new website link URL (your domain name) and will give a brief descriptive tour of their website and share how the website is being used, plus a few words on your web site building successes, frustrations and an over-all assessment of building and having a website. (If you did not build a website this semester you must state that in your final post.)

***Please do not publish or e-mail the final blog post link to me before Thursday May 20th. This post and submission process is to be done during final exams week and serves as our final exam.***

**Not mandatory, but if you would like the opportunity to visually present your final blog post & website to me during a Zoom session during final exams week – please meet me in zoom on Thursday May 20th @ 10am – 12pm or Tuesday May 25th – I will be in Zoom on both of those dates and happy to meet with you there to discuss.

*The Final Blog Post submission requirements as stated above are Mandatory, please let me know if you have any questions.

All questions should be sent to – rseslow@york.cuny.edu

Im here to help!

Domain Name Registration, Hosting Set Up & WordPress Installation!

“The Journey Begins!”

**Please read through this post carefully as it contains a lot of important information**

*Coupon codes for the set up will be e-mail from blackboard – be sure to check your York e-mail to get the code. The code can only be used 1 time.

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/8 (Thursday Section)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TDTB0GQC0XVP2iIeeOiQfs8eMsD78LVtDr1nFequozzrLIITsCqE1Knep2eTiMqE.2UxTknK0aL5Qbvnb

Passcode: +sQ5c^33

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/6 (Tuesday Section)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/jFVxZkAV3TEVQmyyO5mawXSFM904IDZ3HTehC-7R_jRzpmzpVwOEBt-STqWAiGFM.0ma0RoR-Uxc7UJre

Passcode: Lj302W#M

Last week we began talking about Domain Names and what role they play in creating a digital identity on the web (and as a part of this class.) If you missed the first that post check out our course schedule page under week #7 as it has context and will help make this next step a bit smoother. 

This week we are going to get started! We are going to register a domain name and also set up web hosting, which will allow you to put files up online and will be discoverable through your new domain name! We are going to use a form of ‘shared hosting’ where you get a portion of a server – think of it as having an apartment in a building. With this shared hosting you will be able to do a lot of things including installing your own instance of WordPress (remember, this is NOT wordpress.com but the open source version of wordpress.org) so you can start building your website for your domain name.

We use a company called Reclaim Hosting, with which we have a contract with so you will enter a coupon code and start your account for free.

*The coupon code will be e-emailed to everyone via blackboard on the morning that your class meets during week #9

We chose this hosting company because they have a lot of experience working with students just like you, that are likely getting their first domain name and web hosting account. You will be creating an account just like you would with any online vendor with which you want to purchase something. So it’s not a ‘CUNY’ account, we’re just giving you the coupon code to pay for the year’s service.

You do not need to pay for anything, so please reach out if you have questions – rseslow@york.cuny.edu

With that said, you will need to provide a name, address, and phone number. Lets go to this sign-up page <— to get started with the domain name selection process.

1. First you will need to pick your domain name, make sure that it is available and make your selection to proceed. (I suggest sticking with the .com or .net extensions)

2. On the next page, check the ‘add ID protection.’

3. On the next page you should see two items in your cart and a price of $45 with ID protection, you will then enter the needed information for your account and provided coupon code and validate it. (you will NOT be charged for this, its already included in the course.)

4. Your total should now be $0. If it is not then check the items and your cart and adjust.

5. You should now fill in your personal information, and select the payment by mail option. (again, you will not be charged anything.)

6. Complete the order and check your email for your account information and a verification of your e-mail, e-mail. With your new account information, log-on to Reclaiming Hosting. You must verify your e-mail by clicking on the link they provide.

7. YOU ARE NOW ALL SET AND READY TO START WORKING WITH YOUR NEW DOMAIN NAME AND WEB HOSTING ACCOUNT!

8. Its now TIME TO INSTALL WORDPRESS. – You will soon refer to the video below (coming after class on 4/6) and follow the step by step guide to install wordpress correctly. 

Coupon codes for the set up will be e-mail from blackboard – be sure to check your York e-mail to get the code.

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/8 (Thursday Section)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TDTB0GQC0XVP2iIeeOiQfs8eMsD78LVtDr1nFequozzrLIITsCqE1Knep2eTiMqE.2UxTknK0aL5Qbvnb

Passcode: +sQ5c^33

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/6 (Tuesday Section Only)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/jFVxZkAV3TEVQmyyO5mawXSFM904IDZ3HTehC-7R_jRzpmzpVwOEBt-STqWAiGFM.0ma0RoR-Uxc7UJre

Passcode: Lj302W#M