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What is a plugin?
WordPress has a lot of features on its own, but it doesn't include everything. Plugins add on to the basic functionality of WordPress to allow you to do more specific things. For example, you may install a plugin that allows you to format your blocks in a new way, or use an embedded calendar.
How do I activate plugins?
To activate a plugin:
- Open the dashboard of your WordPress site.
- Find the "Plugins" tab in the menu on the left of the screen.
- Find the plugin you would like to activate in the list and click on the "Activate" link underneath the name.
Are plugins safe to use?
Yes, all of the plugins available on the Bucknell WordPress are safe to use in your site. Library & IT selects plugins for that list that are safe, regularly updated, and useful for a wide variety of sites. If you notice that a plugin isn't working correctly or appears to be out of date, please Submit a Tech Ticket describing your problem so that we can reassess that plugin and provide an alternative.
How do I request a new plugin?
If you would like to use a plugin that is not installed in the Bucknell instance of WordPress, please submit a Tech Ticket describing the plugin and why you would like to use it. Make sure to include a link to the plugin, preferably from the WordPress Plugins page.
Recommended plugins
Every WordPress site is different and will need a different combination of plugins to met the purpose of the site. Here are a few commonly used plugins:
- Stackable - Gutenburg Blocks - Get 36 flexible custom Gutenberg blocks that are feature-rich, look good out of the box, and provide a robust foundation for any website even without a single line of code.
- Note: When you activate this plugin, there is an option to opt-in to emails about security and features updates. We recommend choosing "Skip" and not "Allow & continue" so that you don't get additional emails (L&IT handles security updates for all plugins).
- TablePress - TablePress allows you to easily create and manage beautiful tables. You can embed the tables into posts, pages, or text widgets with a simple Shortcode.
- The Post Grid - The Post Grid is a fully responsive & mobile friendly plugin to display your page/post in Grid, List and Isotope View without any lines of coding.
- H5P - H5P gives you access to lots of different interactive content types such as presentation, interactive video, memory game, quiz, multiple choice, timeline, collage, hotspots, drag and drop, and many more.
- Gravity Forms - Create custom web forms that work seamlessly on your site to collect data, generate content, and create reports to download.
Find and activate these plugins by using the search bar or browsing in the "Plugins" tab in your Dashboard.
Where can I get help with WordPress plugins?
For general WordPress questions, email techdesk@bucknell.edu or stop by the Tech Desk on the first floor of Bertrand Library.
From there, Digital Pedagogy & Scholarship can help you with your WordPress site. We offer consultations to help you get started with a WordPress site, discuss site structure and usability, offer plugin options, or troubleshoot with the WordPress interface. Contact our department directly using our main email: dps@bucknell.edu
To learn more about getting started with a WordPress site, see our WordPress FAQ page.