Automattic Launches WordPress.com Education, a Free Platform for Teachers and Students
Automattic, the maker of WordPress.com, has introduced a new free product tailored for educators titled WordPress.com Education. Announced at the annual WordCamp U.S. conference on Monday, this platform provides each student with a dedicated WordPress.com domain, complimentary domain names on .blog or .art, and plug-in support.
This initiative allows teachers to utilize the platform at no cost for the first year, enabling them to forego credit card registration or trial periods. It is designed to facilitate courses on website creation and to support group projects that involve website development.
The newly unveiled Student plan is not a limited version of existing offerings; it includes 6 GB of storage, backup options, staging sites, and access to essential tools like SFTP/SSH and phpMyAdmin. Furthermore, it offers support for plug-ins and Studio Sync.
WordPress.com is a widely used website and blog hosting service that operates on open-source WordPress software, which powers approximately 43% of the internet. Despite its extensive reach, the platform has seen a decline in popularity among younger users who often prefer to establish their online presence through social media profiles instead.
Importantly, the student plan aims to integrate WordPress into educational settings, fostering the next generation of web professionals. Its free access could also benefit underfunded schools.
After the initial year, students have the option to continue using the service for $2 per month, totaling $24 for the year. Should they choose not to subscribe, their websites will revert to free WordPress.com sites without losing any content, including web pages, posts, comments, and uploaded media.
A pilot program involving 5,000 students from 27 countries indicated positive outcomes, with 88.9% of educators reporting that the service enhanced their students’ employability, while 81.5% stated it improved students’ entrepreneurial skills.
