Digital Technology

The GCSE qualification in Digital Technology is a broad qualification that allows learners to build on the digital skills, knowledge and understanding that is used both in their school and everyday lives. The qualification is designed for learners who wish to begin their journey towards a career that utilises digital technologies or to progress onto advanced level courses of learning involving digital technologies.

The qualification will allow learners to develop their understanding of the range of digital technology systems at use in our connected and globalised society. It will also allow learners to explore the ever-evolving nature of digital technology systems and how these systems can be used productively, creatively and safely.

Assessment

This course is broken down into 3 units:

  • Unit 1: The digital world (On-screen examination: 1 hour 30 minutes, 40% of qualification)
  • Unit 2: Digital practices (Non-exam assessment (NEA): 45 hours 40% of qualification)
  • Unit 3: Communicating in the digital world (Non-exam assessment (NEA): 15 hours 20% of qualification)

Skills and Theory

The main strands involved in Unit 1 The Digital World are:

  • Data
  • Digital technology systems
  • Digital communications
  • Impact of digital systems on organisations and individuals
  • Securing data and systems
  • Changing digital technologies

Unit 2: Digital Practices will allow learners the opportunity to develop a digital product of their choice which will take the form of several web pages that include either a small video game or short animation. Learners will have to analyse data in a spreadsheet and then design, develop, test and evaluate their digital product.

In Unit 3: Communicating in the digital world learners will develop knowledge, skills and understanding in:

  • Section A: Social media and online marketing communications:
    Where learners will have the opportunity to develop an asset of their choice, e.g. a video advertisement for social media, candidates will firstly research social media platform demographics, characteristics and features. They will also look at forms of digital marketing, placement, coherence and targeting and use this information to develop a proposal. 
  • Section B: Creating digital assets and planning digital communications:
    Learners will have the opportunity to create a multi-media advertisement using text and images to communicate a message of their choice.