Digital Skills Curriculum for Secondary School

Our curriculum supports the development of critical digital skills such as coding and robotics, preparing students for the future and fostering their growth as engaged, global digital citizens.

  • From 1st to 6th Year
  • Teacher guides & lesson plans
  • Aligned with the Junior & Senior Cycle Curriculum

Used by 1 in 4 Irish Schools - Get started

Coláiste Pobail Acla

Coláiste Pobail Acla

Mayo

Ellenfield Community College

Ellenfield Community College

Dublin

Presentation Secondary School

Presentation Secondary School

Tipperary

Oatlands College

Oatlands College

Dublin

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair

Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair

Donegal

Coláiste an Chraoibhin

Coláiste an Chraoibhin

Cork

Ard Scoil na Mara

Ard Scoil na Mara

Waterford

Scoil Mhuire Secondary School

Scoil Mhuire Secondary School

Donegal

St Pauls Secondary School

St Pauls Secondary School

Kildare

Coláiste Nano Nagle

Coláiste Nano Nagle

Limerick

Colegiul National Bănățean

Colegiul National Bănățean

Monaghan

Mayfield Community School

Mayfield Community School

Cork

Goatstown Educate Together Secondary School

Goatstown Educate Together Secondary School

Dublin

Larkin Community College

Larkin Community College

Dublin

Coláiste Éamann Rís

Coláiste Éamann Rís

Cork

C.B.S. James Street

C.B.S. James Street

Dublin

Willow Park School

Willow Park School

Dublin

The High School

The High School

Dublin

Carrigallen Vocational School

Carrigallen Vocational School

Leitrim

Coláiste Ghlór na Mara

Coláiste Ghlór na Mara

Dublin

Coláiste Iognáid S.J.

Coláiste Iognáid S.J.

Galway

Naas CBS

Naas CBS

Kildare

St. Joseph's Secondary School

St. Joseph's Secondary School

Clare

Presentation College Athenry

Presentation College Athenry

Galway

Rathdown School

Rathdown School

Dublin

Scoil Mhuire

Scoil Mhuire

Cork

Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School

Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School

Dublin

Gortnor Abbey

Gortnor Abbey

Mayo

St Dominics College

St Dominics College

Dublin

Crana College

Crana College

Donegal

Four Key Elements for Science, Technology and Engineering Education

Exploring & understanding

Collaboration, Curiosity, Discovery

Creative & critical thinking

Play, Innovation, Risk-taking

Problem-Solving & applying

Collaboration, Creativity, Resilience

Evaluating & communicating

Analysis, Communication, Feedback

Digital Skills Curriculum

2024/25 Edition

€12 per student, includes student access & teacher resources.

Get started for 2024/25 FAQs

1st Year

Introduction Module

Module 1

Coding Projects with Scratch

Coding Projects with Scratch

Developing Interactive Projects

Module 2

Game Development

Game Development

Learn about game development and create your own arcade games.

Module 3

Coding Projects with Microbits

Coding Projects with Microbits

Introduction to Microbits

Extra Module

Exploring Electronics and Light

Exploring Electronics and Light

Microbit Makers: Code Light Shows & Interactive Projects!

Extra Module

Designing and Building for the Future

Designing and Building for the Future

Robotics Champions: Animate & Control Your Microbit Car!

Extra Module

Discovering Artificial Intelligence

Discovering Artificial Intelligence

Discover AI and learn how to program it using Scratch.

2nd Year

Introduction Module

Module 1

Applied Microbit Programming

Applied Microbit Programming

Deepening Microbit Programming Skills

Module 2

Module 3

Extra Module

Extra Module

Exploring Electronics and Light

Exploring Electronics and Light

Microbit Makers: Code Light Shows & Interactive Projects!

Extra Module

Discovering Artificial Intelligence

Discovering Artificial Intelligence

Discover AI and learn how to program it using Scratch.

3rd Year

Introduction Module

Module 1

Advanced Microbit Applications

Advanced Microbit Applications

Creating Sophisticated Solutions with Microbits

Module 2

Coding with JavaScript

Coding with JavaScript

Scripting for Web Applications

Module 3

Extra Module

Exploring Electronics and Light

Exploring Electronics and Light

Microbit Makers: Code Light Shows & Interactive Projects!

Extra Module

Designing and Building for the Future

Designing and Building for the Future

Robotics Champions: Animate & Control Your Microbit Car!

Extra Module

Discovering Artificial Intelligence

Discovering Artificial Intelligence

Discover AI and learn how to program it using Scratch.

Extra Module

Introduction to Python

Introduction to Python

Starting with Python Programming

Transition Year

Module 1

Module 2

Exploring Microbit Programming

Exploring Microbit Programming

Programming micro-computers

Module 4

Module 4

Robotic Cars and Automation

Robotic Cars and Automation

Robotics, Automation and Engineering

Extra Module

Extra Module

Web Design Basics

Web Design Basics

Learn HTML and CSS

Extra Module

Dynamic Web Design

Dynamic Web Design

Coding with HTML, CSS and JavaScript

Extra Module

Introduction to Python

Introduction to Python

Starting with Python Programming

5th Year

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

Managing Data and Information

Data and Information Management

Module 4

Exploring the Impact of Computer Science

Computer Science Impact Exploration

6th Year

Module 1

Advanced Programming and Algorithms

Advanced Programming Techniques

Module 3

Module 4

Ethics in Computer Science

Ethics and Responsible Computing

Frequently Asked Questions

Students can use any of the following devices to access and use the Digital Skills Curriculum:

  • Laptops
  • Chromebooks
  • PCs
  • iPads
  • Android Tablets

No you don't need to install any software. Students view the modules and lessons of the curriculum using a web browser.

The Digital Skills Curriculum costs the following per student for a full school year:

  • Primary School Students €9
  • Secondary School Junior Cycle Students €12
  • Secondary School Senior Cycle Students €15

Yes, not every school has one device per student and in those cases students can work in groups (ideally in a group of 2 or 3 students) and use one device between them.

Some of our digital skills curriculum modules require additional equipment to enhance the learning experience. These modules are designed to engage students with hands-on activities that complement the digital skills being taught. If your school does not have the necessary equipment, we can provide it for an additional cost. Please contact us for a detailed list of required equipment and associated pricing to ensure your students have everything they need for a comprehensive learning experience.

No prior coding experience is required to use the Digital Skills Curriculum. It's designed to be accessible and engaging for beginners and advanced learners alike.

At the beginning of grade there's an optional introduction module that's for beginner students. This introduces them to coding & digital skills and ramps them up so they can continue with the main modules of that grade.

No you don't need to do all the modules.

Schools can decide how much they want to do. Some schools might just do one module in the school year whilst others have more regular digital skills classes and do all three modules.

Many schools face this challenge, and our curriculum and platform are designed to accommodate mixed-age or split classes.

You have a few options for how to use the curriculum, depending on what works best for your students:

  1. Same modules for all students: For example, if you teach a mixed group of 9 and 10 year-olds, you could have all students follow the module designed for the younger group.
  2. Different modules for each group: If your class includes a wider age range, such as 8 to 12 year-olds, you can assign younger students one set of modules and older students a more advanced set.

Additionally, if some students progress quickly, they can always move on to the next level of modules as needed.

Yes, the Digital Skills Curriculum is covered by the government school book scheme. This scheme, which has been expanded to include all Junior Cycle and primary school students, ensures that schoolbooks and core classroom resources are provided free of charge

How Our Digital Skills Curriculum Makes a Difference in the Classroom

"Using the Digital Skills Curriculum has been a game-changer for my classroom. It makes coding fun and accessible for all students, and the progress tracking tools help me identify and address learning gaps quickly. Thanks to DigitalSkills.org, my students are not just learning to code - they're becoming confident problem-solvers and critical thinkers."

Dave McPhillips

Teacher, Castle Park School

"Integrating the DigitalSkills.org Digital Skills Curriculum at Oatlands College has transformed the way my students learn. They genuinely enjoy the engaging content, and it has significantly simplified my life as a teacher. The platform's format and level are perfectly tailored to their needs, and I'm excited about the fantastic topics prepared for the future. With this platform, I no longer have to spend my summers worrying about lesson planning. It's been an incredible experience for both my students and me!""

Fiona Sharkey

Teacher, Oatlands College

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