Level 1 Digital Technology
DGT100 Course DescriptionTeacher in Charge: Mr I. Karota.
Recommended Prior LearningYear 10 Digital Technology course is a requirement.
Experience in other Technology courses may be considered.
If you are selecting this subject without the recommended prior learning, your acceptance is subject to HoD approval.
This course requires students to undertake technological practice to create ‘fit for purpose’ digital outcomes, and use a range of tools and enhancements.
Throughout this course, students will create, test, and assess functional models to generate and test their own design concepts and outcomes, which will then be evaluated against the outcome requirements. Students will acquire the skills necessary to write code in a suitable programming language for a computer program that fulfils a specified task.
1. Computer Program - Internal Assessment
This standard involves writing a computer program in a suitable programming language that performs a specific task. The task should be of sufficient rigour to ensure the use of data stored in collections (e.g. lists, arrays, dictionaries) AND/OR user-defined methods, functions or procedures.
Documenting the program with requirements is important. Some code comments and a logical program structure are required at the achieved level.
For merit and excellence, the focus is on meaningful commenting and variable naming. Evidence of testing must be provided. Students must show an organised approach to testing and documenting.
2. Develop a digital technologies outcome - Internal Assessment
This standard expects students to identify the purpose, potential users, requirements and specifications of the outcome.
Students are expected to use appropriate tools and techniques of a digital technologies domain to produce an outcome that addresses the requirement and specification.
At the achieved level testing the outcome to ensure basic functionality is a must.
For Merit and excellence, students must use information from trialling the outcome with others to improve its fitness for purpose.
Digital technology outcome could be a website or develop an electronic outcome that involves the combination of hardware and software using Micro: bit or Arduino or Lego Spike Prime or building a network.
3. Understanding of usability in human-computer interface - External Assessment
This standard expects students to demonstrate the purpose of human-computer interface, its usability principles and its use in human-computer interfaces.
For merit, students are expected to explain how usability principles have been applied in human-computer interfaces.
For excellence, students need to compare the usability of human-computer interfaces and apply usability principles to suggest improvements to human-computer interface usability.
4. Design a digital technologies outcome - External Assessment
This standard expects students to generate design ideas for the digital technology outcome that meet the identified requirements of the user.
The design ideas may be communicated using a range of methods, for example, sketches, mock-ups, models, annotations, descriptions, diagrams or schemas.
Course Overview
Term 1
Create a flexible and robust computer program involves:
• Using conditions and control structures effectively.
• Making the program flexible and robust.
• Testing and debugging the program using expected and invalid cases.
The computer program must:
• Store at least two types of data in variables.
• Take input from a user, sensor, or another external source.
• Produce output.
• Use sequence, selection, and iteration control structures
• Use data stored in a collection.
Term 2
Develop a digital technologies outcome:
• Students to identify the purpose and specifications of the digital outcome.
• The potential users and context.
• Usability or functionality.
• Testing and trialing of the digital media outcome.
• Documenting the digital media outcome with comments.
Term 3
Demonstrate understanding of usability in human-computer interfaces outcome:
• Students will examine and evaluate the range of usability of human-computer interface.
• Suggest improvements to human-computer interface usability.
Term 4
Design a digital technologies outcome:
Students through their design communicate how the completed outcome would look and/or function.
The design may be communicated using a range of methods, for example, sketches, mock-ups, models, annotations, descriptions, diagrams, and schemas.
Design ideas can relate to aspects of the design, either independently, or in relation to other design ideas. Examples could include visual elements such as colour schemes or layout, functional elements such as interactivity, or technical elements such as data attributes, code structure or component configuration.
Design decisions are deliberate choices made in relation to an aspect of the design. Decisions can be based on a range of inputs, for example: feedback, research, prioritisation of manaakitanga or kaitiakitanga, or consideration of design principles and/or usability principles.
Pathway Career Pathways
Mining Engineer, Auditor, Chemist, Electronics Engineer, Automotive Electrician, Meteorologist, Industrial Designer, Engineering Machinist, Glass Processor, Recycler/Dismantler, Animator/Digital Artist, Accounts Officer, Office Administrator, Advertising Specialist, Copywriter, Sales and Marketing Manager, Air Force Aviator, Air Force Officer, Product Assembler, Business Analyst, Software Developer, Patternmaker, Building Surveyor, Architect, Architectural Technician, Archivist, Army Officer, Army Soldier, Artist, Film and Video Editor, Medical Physicist, Sound Technician, Tailor/Dressmaker, Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Technician, Naval Architect, Mechanical Engineer, Film/Television Camera Operator, Delivery Driver, Civil Engineer, Insurance Claims Officer, Clinical Coder, Cutter, Fashion Designer, Sewing Machinist, Trainer, Journalist, Graphic Designer, Communications Professional, Telecommunications Engineer, Information Technology Helpdesk/Support Technician, Information Technology Manager, Conservator, Quantity Surveyor, Technical Writer, Dairy Farmer, Editor, Data Entry Operator/Transcriptionist, Systems Administrator, Graphic Pre-press Worker, Radio Presenter, Personal Assistant, Records Adviser, Energy and Chemical Plant Operator, Information Technology Architect, Media Producer, Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Game Developer, Landscape Architect, Joiner, Librarian, Library Assistant, Locksmith, Security Officer/Guard, Refrigeration/Air-conditioning Technician, Navy Sailor, Navy Officer, Office Manager, Pulp and Paper Mill Operator, Parking Officer, Payroll Officer, Photographer, Printer, Real Estate Agent, Wood Processing Worker, Signmaker, Travel Agent/Adviser, User Experience Designer, Intelligence Officer, Test Analyst, Network Administrator, Geospatial Specialist, Security Analyst, Penetration Tester, Security Consultant, Data Analyst, Scrum Master, Garment Technician, Dairy Herd Manager, Dairy Farm Manager, Sharemilker, Epidemiologist