Creating with Purpose

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Lesson 7 of 10 | Unit: Digital Solutions Unleashed

Focus: Year 5 — Technologies
Curriculum Area: Digital Technologies, aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Technologies Version 9.0

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🧠 Learning Intentions

By the end of this 50-minute lesson, students will be able to:

• Begin development of a digital solution (e.g. interactive quiz, simple game, animation or infographic).
• Apply their user stories and design criteria in the creation process.
• Demonstrate logical decision-making in selecting tools and features.
• Collaborate with peers for user testing and iterative problem-solving.

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✅ Australian Curriculum Links

Digital Technologies | Years 5 and 6

• ACTDIP018: Design, modify and follow simple algorithms involving branching, iteration (repetition), and user input.
• ACTDIP019: Implement digital solutions as simple visual programs involving branching, iteration and user input.
• ACTDIP021: Plan, create and communicate ideas and information, including collaboratively online, applying agreed ethical, social and technical protocols.

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🛠️ Resources Required

• Laptops or tablets (1 per student)
• Access to selected digital creation tools (e.g. Scratch, Canva, Google Slides, Tynker or Microsoft PowerPoint)
• Printed or digital copies of:
  • User stories
  • Design criteria (rubric style)
  • Digital Development Checklist
• Headphones (optional for media-based solutions)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Timer (teacher’s device)
• Stickers for peer feedback dots (red = improve, green = great)

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⏱️ Lesson Duration: 50 minutes

Lesson Breakdown:

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0:00 – 0:05 | Launch – Context & Quick Recap

Teacher-Led Discussion (Whiteboard visuals):

• Briefly review what digital solution creation means.
• Remind students of their user stories and design criteria crafted in Lesson 6.
• Reframe the task: “Your goal today is to bring your ideas to life — your solution should be useful, clear, and user-focused.”
• Ask students:

  “What is the most important thing your user needs from your digital product?”

📝 Write 2-3 responses on the board to symbolise 'user-centred design thinking'.

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0:05 – 0:10 | Tool Selection Confirmation

Activity: Design & Tech Tool Check-In

Ask:

• “Who is using a coding platform?”
• “Who is using a design tool?”
• “Who is building something interactive?”

✅ Hand out or display the “Digital Development Checklist” for students to set today's priorities.

Differentiation Tip: If needed, group students needing technical support with students confident in using their selected software/tool.

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0:10 – 0:35 | Student Work Time

Main Activity: Building Begins

Students begin building their digital solutions, guided by:

• Their personal design criteria
• User story they created
• Peer planning notes

🔁 Highlight Iteration: Encourage students to “build, test, tweak”. Explain that perfection isn’t the goal — progress and user-centred thinking is.

🆘 Teacher roles during this session:

• Rove to support digital skills (adding links, creating interactivity, debugging code etc.)
• Prompt users with questions like:
  • “Where will your user click first?”
  • “Does the colour make things easy to see?”
  • “What happens if your user makes a mistake?”

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0:35 – 0:45 | Peer Feedback Dots

Mini-Testing Round: Peer-to-Peer Feedback

1. Students pair up.
2. Each shows their digital product in its current state (even early builds are fine).
3. Peers use coloured dot stickers:
   • ✅ Green dot = “I liked this!”
   • 🔴 Red dot = “Could be clearer/more fun/better for user”

Teacher tip: Encourage students to explain why they gave a red or green sticker — model constructive feedback language on the board.

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0:45 – 0:50 | Reflect & Share

Whole Class Debrief: “What's a win you had today?”

Use popcorn-style sharing:

• “What part are you proud of?”
• “What feedback helped you most?”
• “What’s one change you’ll try next?”

🎯 Recap the process: building with the user in mind; iterating based on feedback.

Optional: Snap a screen capture of 2 student examples to praise/showcase in the next lesson.

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✨ Extension Ideas

• Students could record a 30-second narrated screen recording to explain their solution's purpose and functions.
• Encourage students to upload versions of their product to Google Classroom or a class Padlet for group viewing.

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🔍 Assessment Opportunities

Formative Checks:

• Use the Development Checklist to note student application of their design criteria.
• Observe and record student responses during feedback pairs.
• Take anecdotal notes on:
  • Evidence of iteration
  • Technical skill application
  • Peer collaboration and respectful communication

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🎓 Teacher Reflection Questions

• Did students meaningfully connect their build with user needs?
• How confident are students in using their chosen platform?
• What tools or scaffolds enhanced student progress?
• Do students show ownership of their project vision?

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🌱 Next Lesson Preview

Next lesson (Lesson 8): We’ll begin refining and polishing the digital solutions. Students will begin usability testing and revise their product accordingly.

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Teaching Tip: Consider introducing AI-generated suggestions through careful prompts (e.g. "What could make this more fun for a 9-year-old learner?”) using large language models like ChatGPT to model responsible, creative digital enhancement. This gives students a peek into the power of AI-backed creativity tools as a brainstorming partner.

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