August 31, 2017 — Did you know that data entered into a website form is often passed across the Internet in plain text? Sensitive information such as addresses, credit card numbers, or other personal data is vulnerable to being intercepted by clever yet malicious trolls. SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, is a security technology that encrypts data passed between a web server and a browser, rendering sensitive data into a garbled hodgepodge of meaningless character strings. Using SSL to serve up your content can give you (and your users) peace of mind. It can also greatly impact how Google ranks your site. This presentation will go over the fundamentals of SSL and demonstrate real-world methods for its implementation on WordPress installations.

July 10, 2017 — Is sitting really the new smoking? Will a standing desk save your aching back? Sort of…but not entirely. It’s not which position we’re in, but rather how long we stay that way, that can negatively affect our physical, mental and even emotional states. Those of us who spend long days stationed in front of a computer may know too well the day’s end result of stiff muscles, tired eyes, sore joints, and foggy brains. This presentation will provide a basic introduction to biomechanics and ergonomics, and include brief protocols for rest and movement designed to help recharge the mind, body and spirit. Takeaways may include reduced fatigue, clearer thinking, tension relief, and, ultimately, increased productivity.

Presentation Slides »

January 20, 2016 — WordPress Admins and Super Users may get to the point where they’d like to move to the next level of understanding and exploiting their WordPress systems – but talk of hooks, loops, and APIs is still gibberish that causes their eyes to glaze over.

This session will provide a gentle introduction to how dynamic websites function, learning to identify and begin breaking apart relevant programming languages, and investigate what and where WordPress’ moving parts are.

This presentation is suitable for anyone who 1. wants to start rolling up their sleeves and get their hands dirty; or 2. is curious and simply wants to understand how WordPress works behind the GUI scenes. Best practices and next steps will be outlined for further exploration.

Learning Outcomes:

Identify the source files of a WordPress installation.
View source files from the Dashboard.
Follow best practices (i.e. child themes) for editing source files.
Form a mental model of how database-driven web applications process and output content.
Understand the core functional elements of a WordPress installation (i.e. database and individual php files).
Understand the purpose and function of a WordPress theme and theme files and how themes interact with the WordPress core.

Presentation Slides »

August 19, 2015 — This combination talk/public square discussion covers where plugins come from, how to gauge their reputation for effectiveness and security, and how to assess your WordPress needs to decide which ones should make the cut and be added to your site.