Digital Tools and Publishing
A digital tool is useful when it serves the idea. The question is not “Which app can we use?” but “What does the audience need to see, hear or do?”
Choose the format
| Format | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Slides | A live talk with visual support. | Text-heavy slides and reading aloud. |
| Podcast or audio | Voice, interview, story and discussion. | Poor audio levels and no transcript. |
| Short video | Sequence, movement, demonstration and mood. | Shaky footage and unclear sound. |
| Photo essay | Place, detail and visual argument. | Images used without consent or credit. |
| Zine or poster | Design, layout and a concise message. | Crowded composition and small text. |
| Website or page | Linked material, explanation and portfolio. | Broken links and inaccessible layout. |
Plan the production
- Write the purpose and audience in one sentence.
- Choose the format that fits the purpose, not the trendiest tool.
- Make a shot list, script, storyboard or layout plan.
- Collect or create the assets: images, audio, text, data.
- Build a rough version and test it on someone else.
- Revise, check access and publish.
Accessibility
- Add captions or a transcript to audio and video.
- Use alt text for images that carry meaning.
- Keep contrast high and text large enough to read.
- Do not rely on colour alone to convey information.
- Use clear headings and a logical reading order.
- Test on a phone as well as a laptop.
Consent and privacy
Ask permission before filming or recording classmates. Do not publish a person's face, voice, name or work without consent. Check the school's policy on student images and data. Use first names only if required, or avoid names altogether. Remove location data and personal details from files before publishing.
Copyright
Use your own images, audio and text wherever possible. If you use someone else's work, check the licence and attribute it. Do not use a commercial song, film clip or photograph just because it is easy to download. Public domain and Creative Commons material still requires attention to the licence terms.
Publishing checklist
| Check | Question |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Is the message clear within the first few seconds? |
| Accuracy | Are names, dates and claims correct? |
| Access | Can a person with a screen reader or no sound still understand it? |
| Consent | Does everyone in the piece agree to be published? |
| Credit | Are all borrowed words and images attributed? |
| Privacy | Have personal details been removed? |
| Testing | Has someone outside the group viewed or listened to it? |
Publishing is an ethical act. Once a piece is online, it can be copied, shared and seen out of context. Check consent, credit and access before you release it.