Course Title: Media Studies / Media studies (Double Award)
Examination Board: AQA
Entry Requirements (if appropriate): Not Applicable
Contact: Mrs N Lathaen
Course Aims:
This course aims to;
• develop enquiry, critical thinking and decision-making skills through consideration of issues that are important, real and relevant to students and to the world in which they live
• develop their appreciation and critical understanding of the media and its role in their daily lives
• develop their practical skills through opportunities for personal engagement and creativity
• understand how to use the key media concepts to analyse media products and their various contexts.
It offers:
• Extensive and meaningful coverage of media theory and practice.
• Practical work which integrates theories and concepts.
• A choice of assignments for production and pre-production.
• The chance to study across a range of different media.
• Opportunities to learn about real media products and industries.
• Opportunities for progression, especially to GCE Media Studies or Level 3 Diploma in Creative and Media
• A Double Award to increase flexibility and choice.
Course Description:
Media studies / Media studies (Double Award)
GCSE Media Studies is offered as a two-unit GCSE and a four-unit Double Award.
Both Media studies courses are broken down into units. Media studies is comprised of 2 units and Media studies (double award) is comprised of 4 units. All media studies students will complete units 1 and 2, those entered for the double award will also complete units 3 and 4.
Units 1 and 2 comprise the GCSE, offering a complementary package which provides a useful preparation for units 3 and 4 which combine with units 1 and 2 to make up the Double Award. For both awards pre-production and production skills are fully integrated into both the Controlled Assessments and the External Assessments. Controlled Assessments make up 60% of each award and the External Assessments count for 40%.
Unit 1 is externally assessed and requires candidates to investigate a pre-released media topic and to undertake research and planning in order to respond to four tasks.
Unit 2 comprises three controlled assessments which require candidates to build on their understanding of the media key concepts for their own pre-production planning, leading to a realised production for Assignment 3.
The topic for Unit 1 will change each year and the topics for Unit 2 will be taken from assignment banks that allow for personal choice and flexibility.
For Units 3 and 4, candidates are required to look closely at media industries and practices. The units are complementary.
Unit 3 is externally assessed and is made up of two sections. In Section A, candidates are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of how media industries function, and in Section B to demonstrate application of that knowledge and understanding in response to a related stimulus.
Unit 4 focuses on practical exemplification of candidates’ understanding of media industries through a cross-media production response to an industry based brief. The brief is provided by the exam board and will change annually.
How will I learn?
Traditional learning methods will be used but you will also be given the opportunity to analyse current media texts and forms through interactive methods.
Possible Career Pathways:
Journalism
Marketing
Advertising
Television
Radio
