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    • Digital Technology

    What is GCSE Digital Technology?

    GCSE Digital Technology is a qualification designed to give students a broad understanding of how digital technologies are created, how they work, and how they are applied in real-world contexts. The course supports the Curriculum for Wales and offers both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. It encourages learners to analyse, design, create, and evaluate digital products, make informed decisions about technology, and understand the legal, ethical, and social implications of digital systems.

    Why this course matters:

    • Builds digital literacy and confidence in using, creating, and evaluating digital technologies.

    • Develops practical skills in data handling, digital product design, communication, and systems.

    • Encourages problem-solving, creativity, and iterative design thinking.

    • Prepares students for careers in digital media, computing, data analysis, and related fields.

    What students will do:

    • Explore how digital technologies are used in everyday life and across industries.

    • Investigate how data can be organised, analysed, and used to inform decisions.

    • Design and create digital products using a range of software tools.

    • Plan and evaluate digital communication strategies.

    • Reflect on sustainability, privacy, security, ethics, and future technological trends.

    Qualification Structure (Units and Weightings)

    GCSE Digital Technology (Wales) is assessed through three units:

    Unit Title Assessment Type Weighting
    Unit 1 The Digital World On-screen examination 40%
    Unit 2 Digital Practices Non-examined assessment (NEA) 40%
    Unit 3 Communicating in the Digital World Non-examined assessment (NEA) 20%

    Unit 1: The Digital World (40%)

    Assessment: On-screen examination (1 hour 30 minutes), including multiple-choice, short answer, and extended responses.

    Topics Covered:

    • Digital Technology Systems and Components: hardware and software interactions.

    • Analogue and Digital Data: data types, storage, and conversions.

    • Operating Systems and Software Types.

    • Digital Communications: personal, social, and business contexts.

    • Impact of Digital Technologies: ethical, legal, and societal considerations.

    • Cyber Security and Data Threats.

    • Emerging and Future Technologies: AI, robotics, VR, IoT.

    Skills Developed:

    • Interpreting digital scenarios and applying theory.

    • Understanding systems and evaluating digital tools.

    • Communicating technical ideas clearly.

    Unit 2: Digital Practices (40%)

    Assessment: Non-examined assessment (NEA) completed over guided hours.

    Topics and Practical Skills:

    • Data Organisation and Analysis: cleansing and interpreting data using spreadsheets.

    • Planning Digital Products: design briefs and project plans.

    • Creating Digital Outputs: interactive websites, animations, or data-driven applications.

    • Testing, Debugging, and Evaluation.

    • Development Logs and Reflection: documenting decisions and improvements.

    Example Projects:

    • Data dashboard visualising trends to support decision-making.

    • Responsive website with integrated animations.

    • Interactive data-driven tool for school or community use.

    Unit 3: Communicating in the Digital World (20%)

    Assessment: NEA focused on digital communication.

    Topics and Practical Skills:

    • Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategies: audience targeting and campaign planning.

    • Creating Digital Assets: images, text, video, and other media.

    • Campaign Planning and Delivery: coherent strategy for clear communication goals.

    • Evaluation and Impact Assessment: assessing performance and identifying improvements.

    Example Projects:

    • Social media campaign promoting a school event.

    • Set of digital visual assets and messages for a youth audience.

    Core Skills Developed Across All Units

    • Digital problem-solving and analytical thinking.

    • Project planning, evaluation, and iterative design skills.

    • Practical competence with industry-relevant digital tools.

    • Understanding ethical, legal, and social influences on digital systems.

    • Communication and collaboration skills for real-world contexts.

    Assessment Summary

     

    Unit Assessment Type What is Assessed
    Unit 1: The Digital World On-screen examination Systems, data communication, security, impacts, and emerging tech
    Unit 2: Digital Practices NEA Data handling, digital product design and development
    Unit 3: Communicating in the Digital World NEA Digital communication, asset creation, campaign implementation

    How This Course Helps Students

    GCSE Digital Technology equips students with:

    • Understanding of digital innovations and societal impact.

    • Practical skills for further study in digital media, computing, ICT, and related fields.

    • Experience in problem-solving, project design, data analysis, and creative digital output.

    • Confidence to engage with evolving digital environments and emerging technologies.

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