Practical Project: Digital Communication

Lesson objectives

By the end of the week, learners should be able to:

1. Plan a small digital communication project combining email, messaging and browser skills.
2. Draft a project brief with aim, audience and deliverables.
3. Create a digital communication artefact such as a formatted email or a short webpage mock-up.
4. Save the artefact under a clear filename.
5. Write a self-evaluation of strengths and next steps.

Key vocabulary

• Digital communication: exchanging ideas through electronic channels.
• Project brief: a short document stating aim, audience and deliverables.
• Audience: the intended reader of the communication.
• Deliverable: the tangible product produced for the project.
• Artefact: any created output such as an email or webpage mock-up.
• Filename: the name identifying a saved file.
• Self-evaluation: the learner's assessment of strengths and weaknesses.

Common misconceptions

• "The project must use every skill from the term." Projects use enough skills to demonstrate understanding and application.
• "The brief is optional fluff." The brief keeps the project focused and readable.
• ""A draft is ready to submit immediately."" Drafts are reviewed and refined before submission.

Teacher activities

1. Starter: display a messy email and a tidy one; ask which would a teacher prefer receiving.
2. Explain the project requirements and model drafting a project brief.
3. Plan a small project on paper with aim, audience and deliverables.
4. Create a digital communication artefact on the computer.
5. Save the artefact and reopen it to confirm the content.
6. Collect the brief, artefact and self-evaluation for marking.

Student activities

1. Choose the preferred email from the starter and explain the reason.
2. Draft a project brief with aim, audience and deliverables.
3. Plan a small project and create a digital communication artefact.
4. Save the artefact under a clear filename and reopen it to confirm.
5. Write a one-paragraph self-evaluation of strengths and next steps.
6. Submit the brief, artefact and self-evaluation together.

Practical / learning evidence

A project brief with aim, audience and deliverables, a saved digital communication artefact and a one-paragraph self-evaluation. All three submitted for marking.

Resources and preparation

Computers with Word or Writer, blank project templates and a sample artefact format. Check the computer starts quickly and that every learner has a writable folder. Disable Caps Lock before typing.

Assessment for learning

Inspect the brief for a clear aim, named audience and sensible deliverables. Check the artefact for a plausible digital-communication format. Evaluate the self-evaluation for honest reflection. Record any learner who ignores the brief.

Inclusion and access

Provide the brief template with placeholder lines for learners who need scaffolding. Allow extra time for creating the artefact. Extend confident learners with two deliverables and a second audience. Homework: revise the project brief with one strength and one improvement before submission.