Lesson 1: Logging In and Changing Your Password
This lesson is the first step in the Modern Web Development Certificate and introduces students to their personal WordPress website provided through the P.L.E.M. Academy Research Position. The objective is to log in, verify account information, and secure the website before continuing with the remaining lessons.
Receiving Your Website
Students enrolled in the Research Position receive a personal WordPress website that will eventually serve as a professional portfolio, resume website, textbook repository, and project showcase.
After enrollment, students are provided:
- A personal website URL.
- A username.
- A temporary password.
- Instructions for accessing the website.
The website becomes a central part of the long term professional development process throughout the certificate programs and research position.
Logging Into Your Website
To access your website:
- Navigate to the website URL provided.
- Add /login to the end of the URL.
- Enter the username provided.
- Enter the password provided.
- Select Remember Me if desired.
- Select Login.
After logging in successfully, you will arrive at the WordPress dashboard.
The first thing every student should do is log in and immediately change the temporary password.
Editing Your Profile
Once inside WordPress:
- Select your username in the upper right corner.
- Select Edit Profile.
- Review your profile information.
Within the profile area, students may:
- Verify their email address.
- Add a short biography.
- Upload a profile image.
- Customize profile information.
Students should verify that the email address is correct because future notifications and password recovery tools depend upon it.
Changing Your Password
The next step is creating a secure password.
Within the profile settings:
- Locate the password section.
- Select Set New Password.
- Create a secure password.
- Save the changes.
Using a unique password helps protect your website and all work stored on it.
Do Not Change the Website Address
Students are encouraged to update personal information and passwords, but should avoid modifying the website configuration unless instructed to do so.
At this stage, the goal is simply becoming familiar with the dashboard and ensuring that access to the website is working properly.
The Four-Part Program
The lesson explains how the website integrates into the larger P.L.E.M. Academy system.
Students typically work through:
- Modern Web Development Certificate.
- Resume Building Certificate.
- Scientific Communication Certificate.
- Research Position activities.
Together, these programs create a structured path designed to help students gradually build professional experience over a period of months and years.
The Long Term Goal
The website is not simply a class project.
It is intended to become:
- A professional resume website.
- A portfolio of accomplishments.
- A location for textbook projects.
- A repository for research activities.
- A long term record of professional development.
The objective is to gradually build experience and documentation that can later support internships, employment opportunities, graduate school applications, and professional networking.
The website grows with you. Each lesson, project, and accomplishment becomes part of your professional portfolio.
Final Thoughts
Logging in and changing your password may seem simple, but it is the first step toward building a professional online presence. Before learning themes, pages, menus, certificates, and textbook development, students should become comfortable accessing and managing their WordPress account. This lesson establishes that foundation.