I haven’t spent much time with the .ORG version of WordPress recently but now have a couple of projects, on that platform, in need of attention. So, I returned last night to Whitehall.CO.NZ – neglected for the past 10 months – and had a play. Updating to WordPress (Version 3.0) – the version released in the past few days – is now fully automated, as is the bulk updating of installed plugins (a new feature). BTW I make the point, when asked (well, so does everyone else); WordPress.ORG (selfhosted) is the more flexible, the more exciting, and if you have the time, the more extendible – while WordPress.COM (WordPress hosted) is, for the content provider who doesn’t want to be bothered with too much computer geekery, the safe, cuddly, secure choice. There is a third way, I have only become aware of recently, which sort of sits between the two – here is a good example Waihi East Primary School. I have only had a cursory look at this and their web host provider – but it appears to be the best of both worlds (while you are there you had better get your head around this). There are bound to be others offering a version of this service. If you are tossing up between the various WordPress options have a look here first: About WordPress. If you want to go down the self hosted track read this: WordPress hosting. If not rock on over to WordPress.COM and create an account (you will want to create a .COM account whatever you decide – to handle spam and stats.) and have a play, it’s free and you can’t break anything. Anyway back at Whitehall.CO.NZ; I had a play with a grid theme to come up with this for a front page:
I’m fairly certain I could have done this with WP2.9 but never got around to it. Also, in my rush, I have over looked the fact that this theme is not listed as being 3.0 compatible – and that it appears to be based on code that is most probably much more flexible than I have the time to delve into. It is not quite what I want but the idea is there. Oh, and if you haven’t heard about WordCamp then check this out. I’m going to WordCampNZ in August.
Michael Jeans 
Hi, Michael,
Info most interesting. I’m clear about WordPress.com and wordpress.org, but what’s Buddy Press? Dorothy
To be honest I’m unsure of the full implications. But given what I know about WordPress I see it primarily (among other things) as a ready made tool for teaching digital literacy.
BuddyPress is a version – or rather an extension of WordPress.ORG which allows the building of a multi user platform. Of particular use in schools – special interest clubs, associations or projects.
I haven’t delved into BuddyPress a great deal (intend to) and see it as the obvious jumping off point – using WordPress – for delivering online lessons and activities. In the example of a school each classroom can maintain their own blog(s), activities and news.
I would include this in any new installation of WordPress – (I have set up one school website and advised in the setting up a couple of others).
While WordPress itself allows for multiple authors BuddyPress extends the concept and would be perfect if you wished to explore a subject and ask others (at various levels of involvement) to contribute.
I will over the next few weeks bring myself up to speed on the subject – so I can get as much out of WordCampNZ in August.
Installing BuddyPress rather than just vanilla WordPress would not detract from normal usage – but would allow for project development if required.