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VCE VCE VM Literacy (Year 11) · Unit 1 — Personal Literacy and Digital Texts · 11m read

Creating Digital Texts — Posts, Presentations and Short Videos

Unit 1 asks you to create digital texts as well as read them. Good digital texts are clear, purposeful and responsible.

Learning objective: Create digital texts for a purpose and audience, using design features and safe, responsible online practices.

By the end of this lesson you can:

  • I can plan a digital text for a specific audience.
  • I can use visual and written features effectively.
  • I can follow online safety and copyright rules.

Thumb-stopping. Online, you have a second or two to stop someone scrolling. Clear headlines and strong images do that job.

Planning and creating

PLAN — purpose, audience, platform, key message, call to action.

DESIGN
• Short, clear headline.
• Readable fonts and contrast; captions on videos.
• Images that support the message.
• Hashtags or keywords where appropriate.

RESPONSIBLE PRACTICE
• Ask permission before posting photos of others.
• Respect copyright: use your own images or properly licensed ones and credit them.
• Protect personal information.
• Think about your digital footprint — employers may see what you post.

Worked example (Medium)

Plan an Instagram-style post promoting a school car wash fundraiser.

  1. Audience. Local families and students.
  2. Message. "Car Wash Fundraiser — Sat 9 am–1 pm, $10, all money to the animal shelter."
  3. Visual. Bright photo of students washing a car (with permission).
  4. Call to action. "Bring your car and share this post!"

Answer: Clear details, a supporting image with permission, and a call to action for the target audience.

Common mistakes

  • Too much text on images Hard to read on a phone. Fix: Keep text short; put details in the caption.
  • Using images found online without permission Breaches copyright. Fix: Use your own or licensed images.

Practice questions

  1. A "call to action" tells the audience:

    1. Who made the post
    2. What to do next
    3. The copyright owner
    4. The post’s date

    (1 marks)

  2. Explain why you should think about your digital footprint.

    (2 marks)

Summary

  • Plan purpose, audience, platform and message.
  • Use clear headlines, images and calls to action.
  • Respect privacy and copyright.
  • Protect your digital footprint.

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