Digital Devices & Settings

Overview

Class: Year 7 SEN (Key Stage 3)
Subject: Technology – Digital Skills
Topic: Features of Digital Devices & Settings
Theme: Connect to The Breadwinner (literature theme: resilience, problem-solving, and empowerment)
Duration: 45 minutes
Class Size: 8 students
Differentiation: 3 learner levels (Emerging, Developing, Secure)
Curriculum Alignment: National Curriculum for England – Computing – Key Stage 3

National Curriculum Links

Computing Programmes of Study (Years 7–9)

Design, use and evaluate computational abstractions that model the state and behaviour of real-world problems and physical systems.
Understand the hardware and software components that make up digital devices. (Ref: Computer systems – NC KS3)
Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors.
Recognise the ways data is stored and transmitted in digital devices.

SEN considerations: Scaffolded activities with visual aids, concrete examples, and sensory engagement, aligned with students' cognitive and independence levels.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, learners will:

Identify and describe the key features of different digital devices (Emerging/developing).
Explain the purpose of specific settings on digital devices and how to adjust them to improve usability, especially focusing on accessibility (Developing/secure).
Make connections between problem-solving in The Breadwinner and digital device settings as tools for empowerment and overcoming challenges (Secure).
Use supported digital tools to personalise device settings considering individual needs and preferences (All levels with scaffolding).

Resources Needed

Images and real devices: tablets, laptops, smartphones
Pre-prepared visual aids showing device components and settings icons
Interactive whiteboard or projector
Printed worksheets with tasks differentiated by learner level
Audio clips from The Breadwinner audiobook (selected passages)
Accessibility features demo (e.g., screen reader, high contrast mode)
Simple digital settings simulator or apps (if devices available)
Laminated prompt cards for stepwise instructions
Timer and visual schedules

Structure and Activities

Starter (5 mins)

Engage through storytelling: Briefly share an excerpt from The Breadwinner focusing on the main character using resourcefulness to solve problems. Emphasise how she uses available tools smartly.
Question: How do people use tools (including digital devices) to solve problems or make tasks easier?
Quick brainstorm by students (verbal or symbol-based responses).

Introduction (10 mins)

Show images and real examples of digital devices (tablet, phone, laptop).
Discuss main features: screen, keyboard, camera, microphone, ports, power button. Use a visual labelled diagram for reference.
Highlight device settings: volume, brightness, accessibility options (text size, voiceover).
Use interactive questions to check comprehension.

Main Activity (20 mins) – Differentiated Tasks

Learner Level	Activity Description	Support Provided	Outcome
Emerging	Match pictures of device parts to their names and simple descriptions.	One-to-one support, laminated cards, stepwise verbal instructions.	Recognise device features.
Developing	Complete a worksheet identifying device settings icons. Then, through class demo, adjust one setting (e.g., screen brightness) on a device.	Visual aids, paired work, prompts for instructions.	Explain purpose of settings; adjust a device.
Secure	Discuss how digital devices/settings helped Parvana (The Breadwinner) overcome challenges. Write or verbally prepare 2 ways settings support users (including accessibility). Personalise a device with 2 settings changes.	Minimal support; use of sentence starters or voice recording if preferred.	Link theme to digital literacy; demonstrate adjustment skills.

Plenary (7 mins)

Group reflection: How can understanding digital device features and settings give people power to solve problems, just like Parvana?
Use ‘Think-Pair-Share’: Students formulate one takeaway from the lesson and share verbally or via symbols.
Teacher summarises key points, linking back to National Curriculum goals of understanding hardware/software and usability.

Assessment

Formative: Teacher observations during activities; use of questioning to assess comprehension on features and settings.
Differentiated worksheets: Check accuracy in matching, identification, and short explanations.
Plenary contributions: Oral or symbolic responses to check understanding of theme integration and digital empowerment.
End-of-lesson checklist (teacher-marked):

Criteria	Emerging	Developing	Secure
Can name at least 3 features.	Yes/No	Yes/No	Yes
Recognises at least 3 settings icons.	Yes/No	Yes	Yes
Explains benefits of accessibility settings.	Partial	Yes	Yes
Links device settings to The Breadwinner theme.	No	Partial	Yes

Extensions and Homework Ideas

Ask students to explore accessibility settings on a home device and report their favourite setting or how it helps them or others.
Creative digital journal: draw or describe a digital device feature or setting they think is most useful in everyday problem solving.

Wow Factor / Teacher Tip

Cross-curricular tie-in: Integrate literacy by linking to The Breadwinner narrative, encouraging empathy and empowerment through technology. Enhance SEN accessibility by using multi-sensory materials and assistive technologies, modelling independent use of digital settings to build confidence.

Using AI: Suggest teachers personalise this lesson with AI speech-to-text tools for SEN learners who have difficulty writing, or use AI image recognition apps to help identify device components during activities—making technology more interactive and inclusive.

Summary

This lesson fosters digital literacy foundational skills, interpreting device features, and practical adjustment of settings within a meaningful thematic context. It is scaffolded to meet diverse SEN needs and fully aligns with the National Curriculum's Computing goals for Key Stage 3, emphasising computational thinking, hardware/software understanding, and user empowerment.

Teaching Instructions