🪪
Year 8 • Lesson 1

Digital Me

Set up your digital identity and portfolio

Everything you create this year lives in one organised place — let's build it.

🎯 Learning Objectives

  • Create a structured digital portfolio folder with correct naming conventions
  • Complete a baseline digital skills audit to identify strengths and gaps
  • Explain why digital organisation matters in school and work

📚 Key Vocabulary

Portfolio
A curated collection of your best digital work
Naming convention
A consistent system for naming files so they're easy to find
Cloud storage
Saving files on internet servers so you can access them anywhere
File format
The type of file, e.g. .docx, .pdf, .png — affects what can open it

⏱️ Lesson Timing (50 mins)

🪝
Hook
5 mins

Show two screenshots: one chaotic desktop vs one organised folder. Ask: which person do you want to be? Students vote and explain.

👨‍🏫
Teach
10 mins
  • Why organisation saves hours: searching costs time
  • Naming convention: Year_LessonNum_Task_FirstName (e.g. Y8_L01_DigitalMe_Aisha)
  • Folder structure: Digital Futures > Y8 > Unit A, Unit B etc.
  • Cloud vs local: never lose work again
  • Export to PDF: the professional standard
🛠️
Create
40 mins

Students: (1) Create their Digital Futures folder structure in OneDrive. (2) Complete the baseline skills audit Microsoft Forms (linked). (3) Create a "Digital Me" card in PowerPoint Online or Canva — name, three digital skills they already have, three they want to learn. Export to PDF and save in correct folder.

Tools:
OneDrivePowerPoint OnlineCanvaMicrosoft Forms
📢
Share
5 mins

Cold call 3 students: show me your folder on screen. Teacher ticks off checklist.

🔧 Tools & Resources

🤖 AI Angle

Not introduced yet — this lesson establishes the habits that make AI use safe and traceable.

📝 Evidence of Learning

Folder screenshot + Digital Me card (PDF)

📚 Homework

Find one example of a job advertised near you that mentions "digital skills". Screenshot it and save to your portfolio folder. Write one sentence: which skill on the advert do you want to learn this year?

⏱️ 15 mins

♿ Differentiation

Support (for students who need help)

Pre-made folder template shared via class link — students copy it rather than build from scratch

Extension (for advanced learners)

Research what a "digital portfolio" looks like for a career they're interested in. Note 3 things they'd want to include by Year 11

👨‍🏫 Teacher Notes

This lesson sets up habits for the whole year. Be strict on naming conventions now — it saves enormous time later. Check every student has cloud storage before lesson ends.