Exploring Digital Media

Teacher Learning Plan Curriculum Mapping Student Devices

This module offers an insightful introduction to the realm of digital media, equipping learners with essential skills for navigating online environments. Through engaging units, students will explore digital tools, internet safety, ethical considerations, and effective web searching, fostering critical thinking and responsible digital citizenship in an increasingly connected world.

The NCCA guidelines give teachers significant flexibility in designing and delivering Transition Year modules, allowing them to tailor them to their school's context and students' needs. Our coding and digital skills TY modules are each designed for 8-10 week rotations, typically involving approximately 10 classroom hours of student engagement, which can be integrated into the TY programme as standalone units or combined with other components. Schools may adapt the modules, including teaching approaches and school-based assessments such as portfolios or projects, to reflect specific learning priorities and align with the broader aims of the TY Programme Statement.

Explore the Course

Click any lesson with to preview it

This module offers a foundational exploration of digital media, covering its definition, significance, and practical applications. Through lessons on digital tools, online navigation, and communication basics, students will develop essential literacy skills, learn to choose appropriate technologies, and understand safe, responsible behaviours in digital environments.

What is Digital Media?	Quiz
Digital Tools Overview	Quiz	Challenge
Navigating Online Spaces	Quiz	Challenge
Digital Communication Basics	Quiz	Challenge

The World of the Internet	Quiz	Challenge
How Does the Internet Work?	Quiz	Challenge

This module explores essential aspects of staying secure in the digital world. It covers the importance of protecting personal information, creating strong passwords, and understanding the impact of a digital footprint. Through practical steps and engaging discussions, learners will develop critical skills to navigate online environments safely and responsibly.

What is Personal Information?	Quiz	Challenge
Strong vs. Weak Passwords	Quiz	Challenge
What is a Digital Footprint?	Quiz	Challenge

This module explores critical ethical issues in the digital landscape. It examines the influence of digital media on daily life, the importance of safeguarding personal data online, and the presence of bias in algorithms. Through reflective activities and practical exercises, students develop a nuanced understanding of responsibility and fairness in technology.

Impact of Digital Media	Quiz	Challenge
Data Privacy Deep Dive	Quiz	Challenge
Bias in Algorithms	Quiz	Challenge

This module equips learners with essential skills for navigating the online world. Through structured lessons, it covers crafting precise search queries to locate information efficiently and evaluating sources for reliability. Engaging activities and practical guidance foster critical thinking and enhance digital literacy for academic and personal use.

Crafting Effective Search Queries	Quiz	Challenge
Identifying Reliable Sources	Quiz	Challenge

This module guides students in developing a practical resource focused on online safety. Through a structured process, learners will brainstorm ideas, create a Digital Safety Guide, and present their work. The module encourages applying prior knowledge to real-world scenarios, fostering collaboration or independent work, and honing presentation skills.

Creating a Digital Safety Guide

What is Digital Media?	Quiz
Digital Tools Overview	Quiz	Challenge
Navigating Online Spaces	Quiz	Challenge
Digital Communication Basics	Quiz	Challenge

The World of the Internet	Quiz	Challenge
How Does the Internet Work?	Quiz	Challenge

What is Personal Information?	Quiz	Challenge
Strong vs. Weak Passwords	Quiz	Challenge
What is a Digital Footprint?	Quiz	Challenge

Impact of Digital Media	Quiz	Challenge
Data Privacy Deep Dive	Quiz	Challenge
Bias in Algorithms	Quiz	Challenge

Crafting Effective Search Queries	Quiz	Challenge
Identifying Reliable Sources	Quiz	Challenge

Creating a Digital Safety Guide

Curriculum Mapping

See exactly how this course maps to official curriculum specifications

NCCA Transition Year Programme Statement (2025)

Curriculum Area

Outcomes

Personal Growth

P.1 P.2 P.3 P.4 P.5 P.6 P.7 P.8 P.9 P.10 P.11

Being a Learner

B.1 B.2 B.3 B.4 B.5 B.6 B.7 B.8 B.9 B.10 B.11 B.12

Civic and Community Engagement

C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4 C.5 C.6 C.7 C.8 C.9 C.10 C.11

Career Exploration

C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4 C.5 C.6 C.7 C.8

Components

C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4 C.5

The curriculum does not include official reference codes for individual learning outcomes, so we have assigned a code scheme to make it easier to identify and track coverage.

What Students Will Learn

Learning Goals

Understand the fundamentals of digital media and its tools.
Explore the structure and functionality of the internet and digital devices.
Develop skills to protect personal information and enhance online safety.
Analyse the ethical implications and societal impact of digital media.
Master techniques for effective web searching and evaluating information credibility.

Learning Outcomes

Identify and categorise different types of digital media.
Explain the basic functioning of the internet using a narrative of data transmission.
Distinguish between personal and non-personal information and justify the need for online privacy.
Create and evaluate strong passwords based on specified criteria.
Analyse the impact of digital footprints on personal online presence and reputation.

What You'll Need

Student Devices

Students will need one of these devices. Students can share in groups of 2-3 if necessary.

Chromebook/Laptop/PC

iPad/Tablet

Build a full TY year around Exploring Digital Media

This module is one of 7 Transition Year modules you can combine into a complete Year-Long TY Digital Skills Programme, shaped around your timetable and the students in front of you.

Run the same pathway for every student, or set different pathways for different groups. Students also get access to the modules they're not doing in class, which is ideal for the keen ones who finish early or want to explore further on their own time.

Prefer a deeper tech focus? Swap in Advanced Coding or Robotics and Automation. Each module is 10 lessons of 40-60 minutes, leaving room for school events, mid-terms and everything else TY throws at you.

Why TY coordinators choose it

One decision, a year's content

No more stitching resources together every term.

Flexible per class, per student

Run different pathways side by side.

Certificates after each module

Great for TY portfolios, open days and reports home.

Sets students up for Senior Cycle

Broad exposure so they choose subjects with confidence.

Sample Year Plan

ICT + Coding focus

Computer Skills
Gets everyone on a level footing
Introduction to Coding
Real, working projects from week one
Exploring Digital Media
Video, design and storytelling
Exploring Artificial Intelligence
The topic your students keep asking about
Enterprise and Business Basics
A pitch-and-launch project to close out the year

Exploring Digital Media

Explore the Course

1 Introduction to Digital Media 4 lessons

2 Internet and Devices 2 lessons

3 Online Safety 3 lessons

4 Ethical Considerations 3 lessons

5 Searching the Web 2 lessons

6 Project 1 lesson