Switch course ▾
Digital Teaching Fundamentals
About this course
A practical, tool-neutral course on using technology to help pupils learn: asking what a tool adds before using it, finding and checking digital resources, making simple slides and short videos, running online or hybrid lessons that still work with weak internet, and keeping pupils' data, safety and screen time in balance. Every activity has a paper-based option.
Learning outcomes
- Decide whether a digital tool improves a lesson by asking what it adds, using SAMR-style thinking, and say no to technology that adds nothing
- Find digital resources and judge them for accuracy, fit with the textbook, age suitability and the right to reuse
- Make a clear slide set or short explanatory video with one idea per slide and a printed copy for pupils without devices
- Plan an online or hybrid lesson with clear routines and an offline fallback for pupils with weak or no internet
- Protect pupils' personal data, handle online risks and keep screen time balanced, and bring it all together in a one-page digital teaching plan
Session plan
Purposeful Technology: Learning First
Judge whether a digital tool helps pupils learn by asking what it adds, place a task on the SAMR levels and decide to keep, upgrade or drop it.
Finding and Evaluating Digital Resources
Find digital resources, apply six quick checks (source, cross-check, accuracy, age fit, date, rights) and decide to use, adapt or reject each one.
Simple Slides, Images and Short Videos
Make a clear slide set or short explanatory video with one idea per slide, readable text and a printed copy for pupils without devices.
Online and Hybrid Lessons, Even with Weak Internet
Plan a three-day online or hybrid unit with a clear routine, a choice of live and recorded parts, and an offline route so pupils with weak or no internet still learn.
Safe, Private and Balanced: Your Digital Teaching Plan
Protect pupils' personal data, handle common online risks, keep screen time balanced, and bring the course together in a one-page digital teaching plan for one real lesson.
Assessment
| Weight | Exemplary looks like | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose and resource check | 25% | Explains what a tool adds at each SAMR level, rejects a tool that adds nothing and checks a resource for accuracy, fit and reuse rights |
| Slides and online/hybrid lesson with fallback | 35% | Produces slides with one idea each and a printed copy, and a three-day online or hybrid plan in which pupils without internet can still learn |
| Final one-page digital teaching plan | 40% | Links purpose, chosen resources, lesson routine, offline fallback and data-safety steps for one real lesson, and records what peer feedback changed |
Required readings
- Short explanation of the SAMR model by its creator
- Guidance on using digital technology to improve learning (EEF) and on teaching with low bandwidth
- UNICEF material on children's online safety and data protection
AI integration
AI tools are one more kind of digital tool, so the same questions apply: what does it add, is it accurate, is it safe for pupils' data? This course does not teach AI tools. See course 5.9 (AI Literacy for Teachers) for a full routine for checking AI output and keeping the judgement with you. Never type pupils' names or personal data into any online tool, AI or not. Every activity here has a paper version and needs no AI.