School of Computer Science Technical Workshop Series
5 Week Series - Building Modern Websites with CMS Platforms: WordPress, Shopify & Beyond
Presenter: Abdul Rehman Abid
Date: Every Tuesday from October 28 – November 25, 2025 (must attend weekly)
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: 4th Floor (Workshop space) at 300 Ouellette Avenue (School of Computer Science Advanced Computing Hub)
Content Management Systems (CMS) have revolutionized web development, enabling developers and non-developers alike to build dynamic, scalable, and professional websites without reinventing the wheel. This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of CMS-based development, with a focus on WordPress (the most widely used CMS) and an overview of other platforms such as Joomla and Drupal.
Attendees will learn how to set up a CMS environment, customize themes, integrate plugins, and manage content effectively. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to design and deploy a functional website tailored to specific needs, whether personal, academic, or business-oriented.
Session 1: Introduction to CMS & WordPress Setup
- Understanding CMS: concepts, benefits, and use cases
- Overview of popular CMS platforms (WordPress)
- Installing WordPress (local environment with XAMPP/MAMP & online setup)
- Exploring the WordPress Dashboard
Session 2: Themes & Customization
- Introduction to WordPress themes
- Selecting and installing themes
- Customizing themes using the Customizer
- Introduction to child themes for safe modifications
Session 3: Plugins & Website Functionality
- What are plugins and how they extend functionality
- Installing and configuring essential plugins
- SEO (Yoast, RankMath)
- Security (Wordfence, iThemes)
- Performance (WP Super Cache, LiteSpeed)
- Hands-on: adding forms, galleries, and other features
Session 4: Content Management Best Practices
- Creating posts and pages effectively
- Using categories and tags for content organization
- Managing media, menus, and widgets
- Accessibility and SEO basics for CMS content
Session 5: Beyond WordPress & Final Project
- Brief overview of Joomla, Drupal, and headless CMS
- Comparing when to use different CMS platforms
- Hands-on project:
- Participants build a small website (portfolio, blog, or business site)
- Add pages, customize the theme, and install essential plugins
- Wrap-up, Q&A, and resources for further learning
- Basic understanding of the web (HTML/CSS helpful but not required)
- Laptop with XAMPP/MAMP (for local setup) or hosting account access
- Pre-installed WordPress package (instructions will be shared before the workshop)
Abdul Rehman Abid is a versatile IT professional and CMS specialist with extensive experience in web development and IT support. He has worked with multiple CMS platforms including WordPress, Shopify, Magento, and Wix, where he led the design, development, and management of dynamic websites. In addition to web development, he has contributed to IT infrastructure management, cybersecurity, and technical team leadership.
Abdul Rehman has previously served as a Web Developer & IT Support Analyst at Blue Surge Private Limited, where he oversaw CMS-based website projects and IT operations. He also worked as a Senior WordPress Developer at Utilis BPO, building and maintaining high-performance websites. Alongside his professional roles, he has freelanced on Upwork for over three years, delivering customized web solutions to clients globally.
Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Applied Computing at the University of Windsor, further strengthening his expertise in technology, data management, and artificial intelligence. With certifications in Python, Power BI, and IT Support, Abdul Rehman combines technical know-how with a passion for teaching and knowledge sharing. His diverse background in system administration, IT service management, and help desk support makes him uniquely positioned to guide participants through the world of CMS-based web development.
MAC Students - To receive seminar points, you MUST attend and participate in all 5 weeks; if you miss one week, you will not get any points.
Registration Link ( Only MAC students need to pre-register). Please note that registration does not open until 8:00 pm on Monday, October 27th.