In an attempt to access our new domains / websites from the classroom on our campus, I need for everyone to add their new domain name in the comments sections below. I need to send this info to IT so that they can help us – the issue is related to York’s security / firewall.
It is super important that you do this over the next 2 days as I need to submit the list of domains to IT.
I added my domain below as an example – please add yours now too!
This process was interesting and different. Seeing all the applications that are available to download for the website was intriguing and cool. It was like shopping for website gadgets
I’ve finally downloaded word press and i am excited to use it and tinker with it. For right now my website looks like this,
  But that is just for now. It will soon be filled with life and creativity.
Surprisingly setting up my website was not hard. Following the professor’s zoom videos and how great he is at explaining procedures in detail helped my process go smoothly.
I am hoping and praying for the best on my website journey.
Hola, here with another post! Now on to this assignment.
We were focused on our domains. If you checked my last post, you’d see that we were brainstorming domain names. Now it was time to put it into action! By hopping on to Reclaim Hosting, it was time to sign up and get started.
Honestly, sometimes it moves a little bit slower than expected. I didn’t like the site’s responsiveness initially, but I got used to it over time. But fast forward to setting up, I could choose a domain and jump on the “freeness.” The domains are free for a year, so I have until 2023 to make the best of it. My domain name is www.arppra.com
Now at this point, I was upset about the slowness of the page, but again, over time, it improved. I then jumped onto the cPanel, where all the magic happens.
Of course, I forgot my password.
But you get the point. That’s where you go to access the WordPress site
So far, I’ve just installed the JetPack plugin, so I won’t lose anything and can back up easily. The overall process of setting up a domain wasn’t hard. Well, the hardest part was dealing with the slow loading. I may also just be impatient. However, other than that, the steps were clear and thorough. It’s a simple 1, 2,3. So far, though, this is all on my site:
Looks fun, right?
That’s all for now. I’ll keep you updated on the progress of the website!
Let’s get a bit more specific with WordPress and begin to apply intentional context to our website design. Last week we started setting up our new websites by simply discussing the potentials of the visual design creation and experimentation process.
Let us now talk about how to set up new pages, and how to add those pages to the main navigation menu. We will discuss the navigation menus locations and what their functions were. We will look at the footer space and adding widgets in the footer areas. We also took a peek into “plug-ins” and installing plug-ins (especially the Classic Editor for the similar blogging experience we see on the ct101 site for writing our posts) and the differences between pages, posts & categories.
This is quite a bit of information and I highly suggest that you re-watch the class video tutorial from last week for the practice of retaining the new skills that were shared and displayed. I do this very often myself as I find it super helpful for being able to replicate a new skill or technique.
This all takes regular practice and a bit of openness to experimentation in general. How did you do with your experimenting last week? What did you work on? You can leave a comment below on this post and share the link to your new site :))) – WordPress is a very intuitive piece of software, and it wants your creativity! Let’s continue forward. I will be sharing a new series of demonstrations with WordPress this week.
Assignment #10 – Details – Let’s begin populating our new websites by publishing a new blog post there this week. Thats right, You will be publishing a new post there and also “cross-posting” that information here on CT101 as well. There is an efficient way to cross-post content across WordPress websites. I will show you how.
Lets say you just published a great new blog post on your new website and you also want to share it with your classmates / community here on the CT101 website. (You can! Its easy)
Step 1 – is to publish the new blog post on your website. Remember, every blog post has its own unique URL that can be later shared on other places and space on the Internet.
An example of cross sharing your post on may be done in a new post on CT101 that reads:
————
Your Blog Post Title (all blog posts need a great title!)
(insert an image – GIF – Meme – Quote – or some kind of related media)
“Dear Fellow Readers – I just published a new blog post here on my website: http://yourwebsitename.com, (make sure to hyperlink the post url) please come and check it out and feel free to engage in some fun dialog. Thanks so much”
————
This is a very minimal example above but perhaps just a title and a link is not that interesting? We need a bit of compelling energy to draw the reader from CT101 over to your site. So make this interesting and creative!
**This Week’s Blogging Assignment Prompt for Assignment 10**
Publish a NEW blog Post on YOUR new website, the post can be about anything that you wish that has direct context to your new website’s stated intentions (what your site is being used to promote and share.) After publishing the post, create a new blog post here on CT101 that shares a synopsis of your new post from your website that will entice and grab our attention, be sure to include the direct URL as a hyperlink to the new blog post.
PS – WordPress is really vast and there are many many tutorials out there for “WordPress beginners” – Perhaps YouTube is a helpful source for finding some new resources outside of class? Of Course! Here is one, but feel free to share links to others that you have explored (add the link to the comments section below.)
This week we are registering our domain names. I first started by cicking the reclaim hosting link in the assignment #8 directory. It led me to this page –>
I then enetered a name I thought of in my previous post and suprisingly it was availible.
Im using G0daddy to see if the names I come up with are availible.
And it turns out I did not come up with certain names because evey name I look up seems to already exist.
This made me think of a domain titled anoriginalidea.com, where people can come and check if their ideas exist already or are infact orignal… the only thing is… it already exists.
Unless a different extension other than .com is used.
Moving on I decided to not use godaddy anymore because then we would be here forever.
Didyouwatchit.com
I thought of this name because one thing i really enjoy is conversing with friends about movies we all watched. So for this website my idea was it would be a place where film lovers can join chats about diffrent movies they have watched and share their opinions on it. Does the domain name exist already? …
Another name I thought of was ACoolRoom.com.
Here the website will feature different interior design ideas. I thought of this because I recently saw a wooden waterfall island, with patterned wood and thought it would be cool if it were like a checkerboard wood island.
Setting this up was very easy although I attribute it to our professor and his infinite patience XD.
Because I went into this process already knowing what domain name I wanted to use (see previous blog post), the rest was just following along with the step-by-step process we were being taught. Since I was one of the people that attended this class in person, I don’t have screenshots of the process, unfortunately. I do, however, remember most of the steps. It started with us going on to reclaim hosting and choosing our domain name. which was easy.
Did you have a name already for this step? If so, did you ever rethink your name during this process?
The next step was to validate my name (which worked fine because no one else had it) and add identity protection. With all of that together, we moved on to the cart section where the total was a whopping $45!!!!!!
As a college student, seeing anything you have to pay for causes immediate stress and pain.
Luckily our professor had us covered by including the price of this in our fee for the class so we got a promo code and didn’t have to pay anything.
Once we got our promo code and put them in, the total became $0 and I think the entire class breathed a collective sigh of relief XD. After that, the only thing left to do was fill out all the info they were asking for (address, government names, and all that). The professor walked us through the process of how to download WordPress (which was a simple few clicks) and then we were free to explore on our own.
With that, we were done with the process. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t think to take screenshots of this but it was a simple one that is easy to follow. Well, until next time….
I’m not very good with naming things, lot of my art pieces aren’t titled, and if they are they’re usually given very basic names unless I’ve thought of something very good.
But surprisingly it was pretty easy for me to title my site ‘ethanedwardsdotart’ however I’ve also considered using “ethanedwards.art”, “ethanedwards.comic”, “ethanedwardsdotcomics”, and “ethanedwardsdotcenteral”.
I want to use this site to consolidate all my work but not in the same way I use my portfolio but more in a way that a streaming service like Disney+ would consolidate their work.
Unlike Disney+, my work will still remain onotherplatforms. I won’t post illustrations on this site, mostly comics and other things.
Hopefully, without the restrictions of webcomic hosting sites, I can post my stories in high quality and even with limited censorship and alterations.
I’m pretty excited about this, I’ve been meaning to do this for a while because, in the event that my work is unavailable on those sites, I need a place where I can have them up.
It’s almost like a contingency plan incase maybe these sites go down or I get locked out of my account.
I can also monetize my website and have ads on my site without having to wait for the platforms on that I post my work to give me eligibility for monetization.
We are making websites. i knew this day would come. the domain name I chose is the name of my first Facebook. It is pretty clever. my name, Precious, is a word so i named my Facebook, Precious Precious.
Some other names i thought of were Preciousy.com but it was taken. i also thought of Pstyles but that was taken too.
On my website i have a couple ideas of what id like to post, but I’m still not sure which to choose.
Ironically enough, I know picking a domain name was supposed to be something that most people take time to deliberate on. However, my name was picked before we even registered our websites XD.
Did anyone else use a known nickname they already have?
I think most people who are avid video gamers are used to having multiple names or alias’. I just chose one of my PlayStation account names for my domain name because it was already one I liked and am used to using. It’s called Dreamlessbehavior, and the reason why is that it was my smurf account. I wound up enjoying it so much that I played on it more than I slept, thus the name Dreamlessbehavior. However, there were other possible choices I thought of for a bit before settling.
There were a few other names I could’ve gone with, the first one is probably the most obvious I could’ve used my real name. It is probably good practice to use your real name for websites and such especially for those of us that want to be in the creative field as a career in the future but, it’s just something I’ve never been 1000% comfortable with. An alias always made more sense to me so I typically stick with either that or a nickname.
The next thought I had was to use one of my nicknames. I normally tell people they can either call me D or Avionne because it ends up being easier since my name is a bit unusual. They are both nicknames I’m used to but in the end, I didn’t go with them because they still felt too personal and I almost wanted the user to experience a detached personality without a real-life name attached to it. Weird I know….. XD.
Lastly, I was left with my OG PlayStation name, Lionel, and the name I did go with, Dreamlessbehavior. Lionel is the name I’ve had for my account since 2013 when I got my first PlayStation. Everyone always thinks that it’s supposed to be similar to Lionel Richie but in reality, I was a kid with no internet who didn’t know how to spell Lion-O from the Thundercats correctly XD.
With all that in mind, I came to the conclusion that Dreamlessbehavior is probably my favorite nickname so that is the one I chose for my website. In the long run, it’s a better name and to me, it sounds better, it will also match the theme of my website. Once that was settled all there was to worry about was my theme and let me tell you I was excited about that.Did you already have a theme in mind? If so is it more personal or professional?
I already knew I wanted my website to be more like my Tumblr when I was 15/16. Absolute chaos with little to no cohesion that represents my most random thoughts and the things that I’m into!!! Chaos can be so much fun when used in a design, I feel like people underestimate just how cool it can be. when done right (in my unbiased opinion of course). Of course, I’ll have my CT101 assignments mixed in so it’ll be almost like a massive page of self-expression. It also might not look exactly like what one would think chaos looks like. For example, two websites that are considered some of the worst consumer websites are Wayfair and Papersource.
When looking up why they have a bad design most would say that there’s too much on the screen and no hierarchy. I for one love it and they may seem a little old (similar to catalogs) but imagine that instead of gift boxes, trees, and wreaths you see memes, gifs, and youtube videos. That is the space I strive to have where there is no visual hierarchy or specific theme in mind, just a mashup of everything and anything. Now it is time for me to start thinking of how to bring my mashup of a website together!!
So… Its time to reflect on everything so far this semester…
Right now, I think I am doing just alright in this class. I am a bit behind on my blog posts and struggling a bit with procrastination. I am going to use this break to be up to date-with what we are doing in class. So far, however, I do feel that I am learning new things. One thing is different Writing styles in blogging. For instance, for Assignment 4, my style of writing was more on the informative side than in previous weeks.
Also, I feel more well-equipped to understand different storytelling tools and how to use them fully. We learned in class how to make our own animated gifs, of course, but it is not only that, I appreciate the opportunities we have to venture out into new tasks, like the mmm. page assignment.
Now, what grade do I think I’m maintaining in this class?…
I am actually not quite sure. Right now, I am missing one assignment before this assignment, the mmm. Page assignment (I’m currently working on it), and assignments 7 and 8. Based on the posts I have published and am working on, I see my blogging expanding in terms of writing style. I will say I can definitely work on proofreading my blogs before posting them. That is the feedback I received. And I went back to look at my work and realized it was rough draft material.
I do comment on my classmate’s posts, but I should comment more frequently. I know this is a hybrid class, but I mostly view classes on zoom. I will definitely attend class in person more often to be able to participate in our lessons. I think that will keep me more up-to-date with my posts.
Reflecting on my reflection, I do see that I have some work to do, and I look forward to getting it done.
This week in CT101 we will be focusing on getting everyone set-up with their new websites! The coupon code that you need was sent last week to your York college e-mail address (e-mail me if you did not receive it).
By now, many of you got started, you have a new domain name, a web hosting account, and a blank / default website framework ready to be customized and stylized! I’ll be helping here with the customizing process of WordPress. This part will have multiple aspects to it. There is a lot to share, create, experiment with and test. The process is fun and will take a few weeks as you make several aesthetic and functionality decisions about how you would like your website to look. This will all play out in context to “how” you plan to use your new website. Not only as a new site owner, but looking into the future as well.
So, how will you be using your new website?
Assignment #9 – This week let’s dig into some of the customizing features that WordPress offers as we begin to design our new websites.
What will you work on first? Will you create a series of new pages? Will you remove default content from your theme? Customize the home page? Publish a blog post? Will you create a category or two? Changes colors?
Let’s publish a NEW blog post (it can be after the holiday this week, please enjoy the break!) that shares a narrative statement about your process and discoveries, as well as HOW you will be using your new website as we go forward. You can publish this post on the CT101 class site. Please don’t forget to embed various pieces of media (images, screenshots, gifs, hyperlinks) and also share contextual content to help expand your post.
**For example, there are many video tutorials on YouTube that share “how-to” videos for beginners, or customizing videos for the theme that you may be using, this is context
I will continue to make and record class videos and also share some helpful curated content from the Internet. We will be discussing HOW we will all be using our websites individually, just to mention again
Im going to focus on using one of the popular WordPress themes called: “Twenty-Twenty-One” rather than the default one that comes with the latest WordPress installation (Ill share the tutorial on how to do this) – WordPressthemes are extremely versatile and are great for WordPress newbies and beginners. I highly suggest that you consider using the theme that I share. All themes are different, and many of them out there promoted on the Internet are not free (plus, its always helpful to start with a theme that has a good amount of video documentation that already exists.)
More to come!
PLEASE E-MAIL me and say hello, let me know how I can help you! rseslow@york.cuny.ed
It’s crazy how we use it frequently but never take the time to think about it. No, I’m not talking about your devices, but something your devices helps you to get to. Let’s talk about web domains!
No, it’s not only about Google.com but more than that. A web domain is an actual presence on the internet. Still unsure? Watch the video below to learn more.
Now it’s time to start with the perfect domain name for my new website. Here’s a list of some I thought of:
akkeem.name
arppra.com
runawaytocali.com
lockedaway.net
abroadlifeofajamaican.net
cariblifestyle.com
caribinny.com
I especially liked the first two and the last two. These examples highlight different aspects of my story. Whether my present situation or aspects of my past ones.
I think my website should be about my journey at York or overall. I’m thinking:
Blogs I wrote before
Blogs about life in NY
Pictures of the city
Pictures of the Caribbean
Blogs about Caribbean Life
Video Blogs (VLOGS) about everything
Again, not completely sure, but the possibilities are endless!
Owning and managing a website is like real estate, especially if your site gets many visits. It gets increasingly valuable the longer you have it.
This leads me to the perks of having a site; they include:
The joy of owning something, even if it’s just a website and a domain.
It can be monetized to create an extra income stream if it grows.
Ability to be uniquely creative!
Building my online presence which might mean even more websites.
This has me feeling really pumped about this entire website journey.
Finally, I have some websites that are already motivating me. Check them out below:
Hubspot is an all-in-one marketing platform. I don’t hate it. I love the UX/UI aspect. It’s just sleek and modern.
2.
Well, this is not the best, but it’s here because I’m probably addicted to the site. This is Amazon. It’s user-friendly, but if I join their development team, I will give them some pointers on enhancing the entire site. (If you have an Amazon link, let me know)
3.
Now hold on, CNN is a hit, but their site will not make you head over heels. However, it does the job, and I like that. Not too hard to navigate, and the info you went on the site to see is staring you right in the face. Simple isn’t always bad.
These are just some of the many websites I like. It just shows that all websites don’t have to be the same. The purpose, target and motivation are important. Don’t ever lose sight of that.
I did not have five potential names for my website. One of the things that I knew is that I wanted my domain name to be my actual name it growing up.
I was often embarrassed because I had a unique name, but as Ileft elementary and middle school, I started to embrace the uniqueness of my name. You can’t find it in the baby name dictionary and I became okay with that.
When I was actually on Instagram, my user name was franceluce_
I see my name as a statement within itself. It also it always strikes up conversation about where I’m from and how did my parents it come up with it!My website will be all things Franceluce .
I don’t know exactly what those things are yet, but I am willing to explore and talk about my different struggles and accomplishments and speaking my truth. I hope whatever I post would resonate with y’all!
My digital storytelling class is taking me on a journey that is long, broad, and delightful. I won’t lie and say that it has not been challenging; however, it has thus far been just as exhilarating as riding the cyclone at Coney Island.
I have been taught about hyperlinks and it’s value.
Professor Ryan Seslow now has the class creating their own web site, and in doing so the class must choose a domain name that fits their spirit. This process is nothing to take lightly. It is a spiritual quest, and is not to be taken lightly. It takes meditation to come up with a name to fit one’s web site.
Reclaim Hosting is the company that was chosen for the class by our professor to host our web site. Thus far I can see the reason that this host has been chosen. The company seems to be helpful and encouraging.
I have decided on the domain: PamelaRiderWrites.com. I love to write about many different topics, and love to write about “this new world” in which we live in. My website will not only include sensationalism, but absolutes. Meaning informing my followers with truth and facts. It can range from decorative abilities, to an occurrence that happened within a 24 hour period.
I love having the freedom of going from A-Z in a positive manner, sharing my findings with others. Can ya feel me???
In short; although this journey has been complex, it has been very pleasant. This includes my instructor and all of the scholars in the class. Kudos to us all!!!
Need help with the Commons?
Email us at commonshelpsite@gmail.com so we can respond to your questions and requests. Please email from your CUNY email address if possible. Or visit our help site for more information:
  But that is just for now. It will soon be filled with life and creativity.
![screenshots?](http://<img src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/3ohs7JG6cq7EWesFcQ/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47796dbbe4b2fa8b64602d139476435f1cfad018ff&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g" alt="Thank U GIF"/>){kind=link}