Overview

This two-lesson unit (each 45 minutes) is designed for Year 7 SEN 1 students to introduce and explore features of digital services and settings. The focus is on building foundational digital skills aligned with the National Curriculum for England (Key Stage 3, Computing Programme of Study) specifically:

• Understanding and use of digital systems and services
• Developing cyber safety awareness and responsible use
• Practical interaction with digital settings for accessibility and personalisation

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National Curriculum Links

• Key Stage 3 Computing

  • Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors
  • Understand the hardware and software components that make up digital systems
  • Understand the opportunities computer networks offer for communication and collaboration
  • Use search technologies effectively
  • Understand how to use technology safely, respectfully, and responsibly

• Computing Strand: Digital Literacy

  • Develop fluency in using a range of technology tools and services
  • Explore settings that personalise devices and assistive technologies

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Lesson 1: Exploring Digital Services

Learning Objectives

• Identify common digital services used daily (email, search engines, cloud storage, communication apps)
• Understand key features of digital services (user settings, personalisation, security features)
• Recognise the importance of adjusting settings to improve access and safety

Learner Levels Addressed

• Emerging: Can identify at least one digital service and describe a basic setting
• Developing: Can discuss features of two or more digital services and show some settings
• Secure: Can explain the purpose of multiple settings/features and demonstrate adjusting them

Resources Needed

• Tablets or laptops with internet access
• Projector or whiteboard
• Printed visuals for digital services icons/settings
• Simplified user manuals or screenshots

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Lesson Breakdown (45 minutes)

Engage (10 minutes)

• Begin with a group discussion: "What digital services do you use or know?"
• Use pictures/icons to support vocabulary for different digital services (e.g., email, cloud drive, messaging apps)
• Play a short ‘match the icon to the service’ game in pairs

Share (10 minutes)

• Teacher demonstrates accessing the settings menu on a sample digital service (e.g., email or a tablet settings app)
• Discuss common settings: changing usernames, passwords, notification preferences, privacy controls
• Highlight accessibility features (e.g., font size, colour contrast)

Practice (20 minutes)

• Students rotate through 3 practical stations to explore:

  1. Adjusting settings (e.g., changing font size or background colour) on a tablet
  2. Exploring security features like password setting or two-factor authentication
  3. Identifying features of at least 2 digital services from printed screenshots or device apps

• Differentiation: Provide scaffolded worksheets with step-by-step prompts, and one-to-one support for emerging learners

Review (5 minutes)

• Group reflection: “What settings would you use to make a digital service easier or safer for you?”
• Quick quiz (verbally or written) on key terms: ‘settings’, ‘personalisation’, ‘security’

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Lesson 2: Customising and Evaluating Settings

Learning Objectives

• Explore how settings can be customised to individual needs
• Evaluate the effectiveness of features in different digital services
• Understand safe and responsible use of settings to protect privacy

Learner Levels Addressed

• Emerging: Recognises settings and can identify when a setting is changed
• Developing: Can explain why certain settings are helpful or necessary
• Secure: Can compare digital service features and justify preferred settings

Resources Needed

• Devices with sample accounts/profiles set up with different settings
• Scenario cards describing user needs (e.g., “Jamie wants larger text,” “Amira needs to protect her account with a strong password”)
• Recording sheets for observation

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Lesson Breakdown (45 minutes)

Engage (5 minutes)

• Recap key features and settings from Lesson 1 using a quick interactive Q&A
• Show 3 short video clips or animations illustrating personalised digital service settings

Share (10 minutes)

• Teacher models evaluation: Comparing two user profiles on a tablet—one with default settings, other customised (font size, security)
• Discuss what works well and what could be improved

Practice (25 minutes)

• Paired activity: Students pick scenario cards and work to customise settings on assigned tablets or laptops accordingly
• Encourage students to think aloud about their choices (guided questions provided)
• Differentiation: Use more detailed prompts and checklists for developing level, visual aids for emerging learners

Review (5 minutes)

• Students share their setting choices and reasoning
• Teacher consolidates learning by emphasising safe, personalised, and practical use of digital settings
• Exit ticket: student states one setting they would change and why

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Assessment & Evidence of Learning

Activity	Assessment Type	Learner Level Demonstrated
Icon matching game (Lesson 1 Engage)	Informal observation	Identification of digital services
Exploration stations (Lesson 1 Practice)	Practical task checklist	Ability to locate and adjust settings
Scenario customisation (Lesson 2 Practice)	Paired task with recording	Application of knowledge, reasoning skills
Final exit ticket (Lesson 2 Review)	Written/verbal response	Reflection and understanding articulation

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Differentiation

• Visual aids and simple language support SEN 1 learners
• Step-by-step instructions and adult support for emerging learners
• Extension challenge for secure learners: explain privacy impact of various settings and suggest improvements to digital services

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Additional Teacher Notes

• Encourage use of tactile or speech input where available to support accessibility
• Use real-life examples relevant to students’ interests to boost engagement
• Foster a positive, supportive environment to reduce frustration with new technology
• Link learning to broader themes of online safety and personal responsibility

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This plan provides a scaffolded, engaging, and curriculum-aligned introduction to digital services and settings tailored for Year 7 SEN 1 learners, ensuring differentiation and practical hands-on learning with explicit links to the national computing curriculum expectations.