Digital Narratives Lesson - KS3 PSHE ICT Computing

What you see online is rarely the whole story. This session puts that idea to the test. KS3 Students act as a selection panel choosing candidates for a school council place. They work through digital evidence from each candidate before making their decision. In Round 2, students become investigators working through a profile built entirely from things other people posted about a fictional student called Jordan. Jordan never chose to share any of it - except one item. The question that closes the session is not what Jordan posted. It is whether the picture that was built is a fair one.

What’s included

• Out of Context.pptx - full presentation with speaker notes on every slide
• Voting cards (YES / NO / UNSURE) - printable, one set per student
• Jordan’s Record - evidence profile sheet, one per student
• Teacher notes with full facilitation guidance, timing, and curriculum mapping

Themes explored
Context collapse, digital narratives, online identity, snap judgement, incomplete information, passive footprint, sharenting, consent, assumptions, what survives online when context disappears.

Curriculum links
PSHE Association Programme of Study (KS3 - Living in the Wider World and Relationships), Statutory RSHE 2020 (Online Relationships, Being Safe), Computing National Curriculum KS3, Ofsted Personal Development and SMSC.

Practical details
Suitable for Years 6-9
50-60 minutes
No computers required
Works as a classroom lesson or hall-based activity

This lesson is part of the Digital Footprint Series. The complete bundle - three sessions designed to run as a half-day transition day, drop-down digital literacy session, or three-lesson PSHE unit - is available here:
The Whole Picture - Digital Footprint Series
The free AUDIT Framework poster is available here:
AUDIT Framework Poster - free