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Lesson 1 of 8
  • Year 11

Digital artefact types and uses

I can describe what a digital artefact is and how different types are used in industry.

View unit
Lesson 1 of 8
New
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  • Year 11

Digital artefact types and uses

I can describe what a digital artefact is and how different types are used in industry.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A digital artefact is anything that has been created and is stored digitally.
  2. A physical artefact is something you can touch, see and use in the real world.
  3. A physical artefact can be created when a digital artefact is printed and used.

Keywords

  • Digital artefact - an object or piece of information that is created, stored and manipulated in a digital format

  • Physical artefact - something you can touch, see and use in the real world

Common misconception

A poster that is created using software is digital even when printed out.

The source of the design is digital if it was created using software. However, once that digital design is printed onto a physical medium like paper, the resulting poster itself becomes a physical artefact.


To help you plan your year 11 computing lesson on: Digital artefact types and uses, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Having examples of physical and digital artefacts that learners will have seen in school or their local community can aid understanding.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which software is best for creating graphs and analysing numbers?

video editor
sound editor
Correct answer: spreadsheet
drawing tool

Q2.
Which tool would you use to edit a photograph?

database
Correct answer: drawing tool
sound editor
spreadsheet

Q3.
What is the main purpose of a database?

Correct answer: to store and organise information
to create animations
to record sound
to edit videos

Q4.
Arrange these steps for editing a video:

1 - import video clips
2 - arrange clips on a timeline
3 - add effects and transitions
4 - export the final video

Q5.
Put these actions in order for creating a spreadsheet chart:

1 - enter data
2 - select data
3 - choose chart type
4 - create chart

Q6.
Name the device that can create physical objects from digital designs by building them layer by layer.

Correct Answer: 3D printer

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What do we call an object that is created, stored and edited using a computer?

Correct Answer: digital artefact, digital, a digital artefact, a digital artifact, digital artifact

Q2.
What is a digital artefact?

a sculpture in a museum
a handwritten letter
a painted canvas
Correct answer: an object stored and manipulated in a digital format

Q3.
What is the term for an object you can physically touch, like a printed poster?

Correct Answer: physical artefact, physical, physical artifact, physical artefacts, physical artifacts

Q4.
Which of these is a physical artefact?

an email
a computer file
Correct answer: a printed photograph
a digital drawing

Q5.
What is one advantage of digital artefacts over physical artefacts?

Correct answer: can be easily copied and shared
are always unique
cannot be changed
last forever

Q6.
Arrange these steps for turning a digital drawing into a poster:

1 - create the drawing on a computer
2 - save the file
3 - print the drawing
4 - display the poster