NCEA Level 1 Digital Technology

Technology is intervention by design. Digital Technologies focuses on building ākonga capability to apply technological ideas within a digital environment. Digital Technologies is a broad subject that covers many domains, for example:

• software programming
• electronic environments and embedded systems
• digital information systems
• digital media.

As they study, ākonga will develop computational thinking skills and the ability to design and develop digital outcomes. They will also learn how computers represent and process data — the fundamental material of the subject. Ākonga will develop an understanding of how data can be organised and the ethical issues surrounding its use. They will learn about the digital design and development processes used to create, test, and evaluate digital outcomes. Ākonga will practise manaakitanga as they learn to prioritise users in the outcomes they develop, and understand how Digital Technologies outcomes impact on the people who use them.

Finally, ākonga will learn fundamental principles and concepts that existing and emerging technologies are built on. This knowledge will allow them to quickly adapt to the challenges and opportunities offered by new technologies. They will become informed users, and innovative creators, of technology.

Key Outcomes

Technological Practice – students will learn: planning for practice, brief development and outcome development and evaluation

Technological Knowledge – students will learn: technological modelling, products and systems

Nature of Technology – students will learn: characteristics of technology and characteristics of technological outcomes

In years 11-13, students work with fewer contexts in greater depth. This will require the students to draw fully on learning from other disciplines.

The Year 11 Digital Technology course offers Level 1 credits towards NCEA. These will be internally assessed achievement standards and unit standards with one external Achievement Standard.  They will be graded ‘Achieved’, ‘Achieved with Merit’, ‘Achieved with Excellence’ or ‘Not Achieved’ for Achievement Standards and ‘Achieved’ or ‘Not Achieved’ for the Unit Standards. Not all students will do all credits – the teacher, in conjunction with the student, will direct which credits each student will take. The course for each student will allow the student to amass between 16 – 20 Digital Technology credits towards NCEA.  

The course is eligible for course accreditation.