1 - Welcome and Warm-up
Warm-up (30 seconds): Think about the messiest folder on your computer or phone. What makes it hard to find things?
This lesson teaches you to create folders, name files properly, and organise your Digital Portfolio so you can always find what you need — whether it's for schoolwork, a job application, or sharing your Something Real project.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Identify files and folders, recognise common file types and storage locations
- Create a logical sub-folder structure for your Project Portfolio
- Apply sensible file naming conventions (date-topic-version)
- Organise files to support efficient retrieval
2 - Key Concepts
Files vs Folders
- Files contain your work: documents (.docx), spreadsheets (.xlsx), images (.jpg, .png), presentations (.pptx)
- Folders organise files — think of them as drawers in a filing cabinet
File Naming Rules (Use These Always)
- YYMMDD_topic-version: 241205_TY-TripProposal-v1.docx
- No spaces — use hyphens or underscores: 241205_TY-Trip-v2.pdf
- Start with date so files sort chronologically
- Include version number (v1, v2, FINAL)
Your Digital Portfolio Structure
Create these subfolders inside your main Portfolio folder:
- 01_Brief
- 02_Research
- 03_Accessibility
- 04_Draft
- 05_Polished
- 06_Numbers
- 07_Charts
- 08_PitchDeck
- 09_Feedback
3 - Step-by-step: Create Practice Folder Structure + Key Skills
Follow these instructions to create a practice folder structure. You'll learn to create folders, rename files, move files by dragging, and take screenshots — all skills needed for your Digital Portfolio.
Success criteria: 3 folders created with correct names, 2 practice files renamed and moved, 1 screenshot saved correctly.
Common Issues (Read Before Starting)
- Can't create folders: Make sure you're not inside a read-only folder (like Program Files). Use Desktop or Documents.
- File names too long: Keep under 50 characters. Use abbreviations if needed: 'Prop' not 'Proposal'.
- Files won't move: Drag files into folders (don't use cut/paste between different drives).
4 - Portfolio Build: Organise Your Digital Portfolio
Worked Example: Here's what your final Portfolio looks like (). Notice numbered folders (01-09) and properly named files like {{code:241205_Brief-v1.docx}}.
Checklist (follow this exact sequence):
- Navigate to your main Portfolio folder
- Create 9 subfolders: {{code:01_Brief}}, {{code:02_Research}}, {{code:03_Accessibility}}, {{code:04_Draft}}, {{code:05_Polished}}, {{code:06_Numbers}}, {{code:07_Charts}}, {{code:08_PitchDeck}}, {{code:09_Feedback}}
- Rename ALL existing files using date-topic-version (add dates to Lesson 1 files)
- Move files to correct folders (Brief docs → 01_Brief, images → 02_Research, etc.)
- Take screenshot of main Portfolio showing all 9 subfolders
- Save screenshot as {{code:241205_PortfolioStructure-v1.png}} in main Portfolio
Apply your new skills to restructure your Digital Portfolio folder (from Lesson 1).
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