Exploring Digital Art and Design

What your school gets

Everything a teacher needs to teach Exploring Digital Art and Design this year.

In class

8 lessons, ready to teach Each one planned step by step, taught from the board with the same lesson open on each student's device.
Quizzes and assessments A short quiz with every lesson and 1 module assessment.
Progress and resultsWhat each student has completed, and how they did.
CertificatesFor portfolios, open days and reports home.
Try the first lesson: Introduction to Digital Art

The curriculum it covers

Every lesson is mapped to the specification. This course teaches 0 of the 42 outcomes for this class.

NCCA Transition Year Programme Statement (2025)

Personal Growth 0 of 11 outcomes

Being a Learner 0 of 12 outcomes

Civic and Community Engagement 0 of 11 outcomes

Career Exploration 0 of 8 outcomes

See every outcome

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

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

Tap any outcome to read it. The coloured ones are taught in this course. 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.

The course, module by module

8 lessons and 1 assessment in 3 modules. The lesson marked Sample opens in full.

1 Foundations of Digital Art 4 lessons · about 3 hours

This module offers an insightful exploration of the digital art landscape. It covers the historical evolution of digital art since the 1950s, key software and tools like Adobe Photoshop and Procreate, and fundamental navigation skills. Students will also engage with various brushes and tools to create their own digital artwork.

Introduction and Overview
1 Introduction to Digital Art Sample lesson Quiz
2 Overview of digital art software and tools Quiz
Software Navigation and Tools
3 Basic Navigation and Interface Quiz
4 Understanding the Different Types of Brushes and Tools Quiz

2 Techniques in Digital Creation 4 lessons · about 3 hours

This module explores the essential skills of digital art creation through practical lessons. Students will learn to craft basic shapes, experiment with diverse brush strokes and effects, and understand colour theory and its application in digital art. Using tools like Photopea, participants will develop techniques to produce visually compelling artwork.

Shapes and Brush Effects
5 Creating basic shapes Quiz
6 Experimenting with Different Brush Strokes and Effects Quiz
Colour Theory and Application
7 Introduction to Color Theory Quiz
8 Using Color in Digital Art Quiz

3 Project Application and Showcase 0 lessons and an assessment · about 1 hour

This module guides students through the process of creating and presenting a digital art piece. From brainstorming ideas and selecting tools to refining their work and showcasing it to peers or online, students will develop creativity, critical evaluation skills, and confidence in sharing their artistic achievements.

Digital Art Showcase Assessment

What students learn

This module delves into the fascinating world of digital art and design. Teachers will guide students through the history and impact of digital art, the software and tools used in its creation, and the basics of software navigation. The module also covers the different types of brushes and tools, creating basic shapes, experimenting with brush strokes and effects, and an introduction to colour theory. The module concludes with a digital art showcase. Teachers should prepare by familiarising themselves with The module content and encouraging student participation and creativity throughout.

By the end of the course, students can

Identify the key characteristics and history of digital art, and discuss its impact on creativity.
Understand and describe the functions of various digital art software and tools.
Navigate and use the interface of digital art software efficiently, with a focus on Photopea.
Differentiate between various types of brushes and tools in digital art, and use them effectively in creating artwork.
Create basic shapes using digital art software and understand their role as the building blocks of artwork.
Experiment with different brush strokes and effects to create unique digital art pieces.
Understand the fundamental principles of colour theory and apply them effectively in digital art.
Present a digital art piece, demonstrating the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the course.

What you'll need

Used in some of the lessons. Students can share in groups of two or three.

Chromebook/Laptop/PC iPad/Tablet

Build a full TY year around Exploring Digital Art and Design

This module is one of 10 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 to 16 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