Project Work – SS2 Digital Technologies Lesson Note (Third Term)

A project is a solution to a real problem, built as a digital tool. Students choose one of three paths: a website, a program or app, or a data research project. They follow four stages: definition, design, build and demo. A Gantt chart helps them plan the weeks, and simple troubleshooting steps help them fix errors.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what a project is and give examples of school problems it can solve;
• choose one of the three project paths: website, program or app, and data research;
• describe the four stages of a project;
• complete a simple four-week Gantt chart;
• use three steps to fix a project that “breaks”;
• give a 1-minute pitch of their project idea.

What is a project?

A project is a solution to a problem. Think about your school:

• Is the library record kept in a dusty book that is hard to search?
• Do students struggle to know their lesson timetable?
• Is it hard for the school gatekeeper to know which parent is picking up which child?

As an ICT student, your job is to look at these “real-world” problems and build a digital tool to fix them.

Which project path can you choose?

Depending on what you enjoyed most this term, you can choose one of these three paths for your mini-project.

Path A: The Web Developer (Website)

Build a multi-page website using HTML and CSS.

• Example: A website for the school’s Sports Inter-house, showing the scores and photos of winners.

Path B: The Programmer (Software/App)

Create a simple program using Python or a mobile app tool.

• Example: A “CGPA Calculator” where students enter their grades to see their average instantly.

Path C: The Data Analyst (Research)

Collect data, clean it, and present findings.

• Example: A survey on “Students’ Favourite Subjects” with charts showing why some subjects are more popular than others.

What are the four stages of a project?

To keep your project from becoming a mess, follow these four steps.

Step 1: The “What & Why” (Definition)

Define your project in one sentence.

• Bad: “I want to make a website.”
• Good: “I want to build a website that helps SS2 students download past computer science questions.”

Step 2: The Design (Wireframing/Algorithm)

Draw your plan on paper first!

• If it’s a website, draw the buttons.
• If it’s a program, write the algorithm steps.

Step 3: The Build (Coding)

This is where you sit at the computer.

• Tip: Start small. Get one button to work before you try to build ten.

Step 4: The Demo (Presentation)

You must be able to explain your work to others.

• What problem does it solve?
• What tools did you use?
• What was the hardest part to fix?

How do you manage a project with a Gantt chart?

Professional developers use a schedule before they start. A simple version of this is a Gantt chart. It shows what you will do each week.

What should you do when your project “breaks”?

Every project will have a moment where the code doesn’t run or the image doesn’t show. This is normal!

1. Read the error message: The computer usually tells you exactly which line is broken.
2. Check the “small stuff”: Did you miss a semicolon ;? Did you forget to close a tag </div>?
3. Use the “Rubber Duck” method: Explain your code out loud to a friend (or even a toy). Often, just hearing yourself say it helps you find the mistake.

Checklist for students

• [ ] My project solves a specific problem.
• [ ] I have a paper sketch/wireframe of my project.
• [ ] My folders are organised (images in an images folder!).
• [ ] I have tested my project on at least two different devices.
• [ ] I can explain my code to my teacher in 2 minutes.

Class activity: the pitch session

Today in class, stand up and give a “1-minute pitch” of your project idea. Include these three parts:

1. Project name: (e.g., “The School Fee Reminder App”)
2. The problem: (e.g., “Parents forget when the deadline is.”)
3. The tool: (e.g., “I will use Python to send a reminder message.”)

Evaluation

1. What is a project?
2. Name the three project paths and give one example of each.
3. List the four stages of a project.
4. Rewrite “I want to make a website” as a good one-sentence project definition.
5. State three things you can do when your code does not run.

Assignment

Choose one project path. Write a one-sentence definition of your project. Draw a paper sketch or write the algorithm steps for it, then fill in a four-week Gantt chart for the work.