Month 1 | A Modern Resume for College Students

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:

1. Navigate to the website URL provided.
2. Add /login to the end of the URL.
3. Enter the username provided.
4. Enter the password provided.
5. Select Remember Me if desired.
6. Select Login.

After logging in successfully, you will arrive at the WordPress dashboard.

Editing Your Profile

Once inside WordPress:

1. Select your username in the upper right corner.
2. Select Edit Profile.
3. 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:

1. Locate the password section.
2. Select Set New Password.
3. Create a secure password.
4. 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.

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.

Lesson 2: Training ChatGPT or AI for Thumbnails and Featured Images

This lesson demonstrates how to use artificial intelligence tools to create consistent YouTube thumbnails, featured images, playlist graphics, and website visuals while building a professional online presence. The lesson also explains how these images can be integrated into WordPress posts, accordions, lesson libraries, and long term portfolio projects. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Why Consistent Thumbnails Matter

One of the goals of P.L.E.M. Academy is helping students create a professional online presence.

A consistent thumbnail design helps:

• Create a recognizable brand.
• Improve website appearance.
• Organize lesson libraries.
• Improve YouTube presentation.
• Create a more professional portfolio.

When every lesson follows a consistent design pattern, visitors immediately understand how the content is organized. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Training AI Through Conversation

The lesson demonstrates interacting with ChatGPT using natural language instructions.

Rather than using complicated commands, students simply explain:

• The image they want.
• The title they want displayed.
• The color scheme.
• The month and week structure.
• The desired dimensions.

The AI then generates a thumbnail matching those specifications. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Creating a Thumbnail Template

A major objective is creating a reusable thumbnail style.

For example:

• Month 1 uses one color scheme.
• Month 2 uses a different color scheme.
• Week numbers remain consistent.
• Typography remains consistent.
• Layout remains consistent.

This creates visual continuity throughout the lesson library. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Month and Week Organization

The lesson introduces a structured organization system:

• Month 1
• Month 2
• Month 3
• Month 4
• And beyond

Within each month:

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4

Students are encouraged to work steadily through the lessons rather than rushing through the material. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Matching Featured Images and Lesson Pages

An important concept presented in the lesson is maintaining consistency between:

• YouTube thumbnails.
• WordPress featured images.
• Accordion lesson entries.
• Playlist graphics.
• Search engine content.

When all of these components match visually, the website appears significantly more organized and professional. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Creating Search Engine Content

The lesson also discusses creating individual posts that function as search engine entry points.

These posts:

• Contain the lesson summary.
• Contain the video.
• Contain the featured image.
• Can be discovered through search engines.

This allows content to simultaneously function as a lesson and a marketing tool. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Recording Your Work

Students are encouraged to document their progress by recording themselves completing tasks.

Examples include:

• Building a website.
• Creating a resume.
• Writing a textbook.
• Formatting documents.
• Developing projects.

These recordings become evidence of professional development and can later support job applications, portfolios, and professional networking opportunities. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Building Experience Over Time

The lesson emphasizes that students should not rush through the program.

Instead:

• Complete one lesson at a time.
• Stay consistent.
• Follow weekly goals.
• Document your work.
• Allow experience to accumulate naturally.

Professional growth is a long term process rather than a short term sprint. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Final Thoughts

Artificial intelligence can be an extremely powerful productivity tool when used correctly. In this lesson, students learn how to train AI to create professional thumbnails, maintain visual consistency, organize lesson libraries, and support long term portfolio development. When combined with documentation, website development, and project creation, these skills contribute directly to building a professional online presence. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}