Introduction to GCSE Media Studies
Welcome to Media Studies
You have chosen to study a subject that is increasingly popular and successful in this school besides making significant growth at university level.
Media Studies is a subject that is accessible in that it focuses on many of the things you already know of and enjoy such as films, TV programmes, music and advertisements. What we will teach you is how to consider such products critically, thinking analytically about how they are created and consumed. Above all you should become more conscious of your media consumption habits and more inclined to question what you are consuming.
Further down this page we address our expectations of you in specific detail and what you can expect in return of us, your teachers. It is hoped that you have a wide and detailed knowledge of media products, the raw primary material put out on CD, through film, DVD, video, television and in newspaper and magazine format, that the course seeks to analyse and creatively emulate. Some of you may have studied media at GCSE but, although that gives you some prior knowledge, that will not give you an edge unless you are driven by clear engagement with the subject and commitment to hard work.
Media Studies develops a range of knowledge and skills that strongly prepare you for self-supported achievement, whether you choose further study or work after AS and A2 courses. It significantly alters your perception and enjoyment of the Mass Media. You may well find that we stimulate a blurring of some of your academic and leisure pursuits.
- Mr Ward (Head of Media Studies)
- Ms Kirk
- Miss Nicholson
- Ms Hunter
- Miss Hurdley
- Mr Luhrs
Overview
The GCSE course begins with a look at the media products that you already consume. We feel it is important that you develop the skill of self-evaluation, a part of which is thinking carefully about how you interact with the media.
Once this is accomplished, your AS modular studies will begin. As you can see elsewhere there is work undertaken looking at:
- advertising
- soap opera
- the music industry
- teenage girls’ magazines
- film and film genre
There is a lot of scope for personal research indeed it is essential for gaining higher grades. It is assumed that you are keen to learn about new ideas and new ways of thinking. In particular you should be an active student out of school, aiming to expose yourself to media products you may not previously have considered.
Expectations
We take for granted that you will arrive for lessons on time, fully-prepared with paper, folder, pen, pencil etc. We also have a few additional expectations:
- after an absence, on your return you explain the reason for absence to your teacher. This is common courtesy. Your teachers are keeping records of attendance, participation and attitude.
- after an absence, you must catch up with notes and find out about and complete any tasks set.
- we expect deadlines, whether negotiated or not, to be adhered to. Late work may well not be accepted for marking. Missing work and deadlines will go against you on rapid assessment checks, reports and references, besides incurring referrals to Head of House/Head of Faculty.
- that you share the department’s strong belief that learning is the key to success. Your teachers facilitate this learning through teaching, discussion, directing your own research and monitoring your progress.
- similarly that you share our belief in self-evaluation, whereby you closely diagnose your strengths and weaknesses.
Recommendations
- That you undertake regular research. Your teachers will always be able to recommend reading or viewing, as will this site.
- That you look out for relevant media TV programmes to watch and record, newspaper articles to cut out and keep. There are also media specific programmes on BBC Radio. You will need to develop a bank of primary and secondary material to refer to in your writing and other work.
- That you open up a personal dialogue with your teachers about your studies and your particular interests in the subject. We run through teamwork. In order to support your learning and produce the best individual coursework and analytical writing of which you are capable, we need to be able fully to supervise you personally.
Coursework
A great deal of your time will be spent developing a coursework folder. This is primarily computer based work and invariably calls for original photography. You will receive feedback throughout the process of creating coursework pieces. Your ultimate aim is to produce work that is an authentic representation of actual media output.
Digital cameras are used heavily in your media studies lessons. They are also available to use outside school if you bring in the appropriate form, available from your media teacher. A few points need clarifying with regard to the use of cameras:
- They are a valuable resource. As such they should be treated with respect.
- If taking pictures during a lesson you should never interrupt another lesson in any way. Doing so reflects badly on both you and us.
- When cameras are taken out of school they should always be returned promptly. In school there are usually around 300 students taking media studies, so having one camera unavailable for unplanned stretches of time is extremely problematic.
Your coursework should develop over the two year course. Pieces ‘finished’ in year 10 are rarely a good reflection of your potential in year 11, so you should always make time to revisit such pieces of work to see if they still meet your current standard.
Skills
Here are the skills that you will need to develop in order to be a successful student.
- Analytical – A capacity for critical thought. Analytical expression is clearly stated and backed up with textual and/or theoretical evidence rather than merely asserted. You should be able to deal with both primary and secondary material analytically.
- Creative – The ability to devise your own practical work with imagination and originality but within the constraints of convention where they exist. Careful presentation is essential.
- Expressive – The ability to communicate clearly through good English. The ability to write following academic conventions. This also includes the ability to use media jargon appropriately.
- IT skills – The ability to make the fullest use of IT facilities both inside and outside school.
- Production – The ability to utilise technology of all levels of sophistication to achieve a desired outcome.
- Research – Students research both primary and secondary material inside and outside school. Besides school facilities they might visit public and academic libraries, send off for information to media institutions, go on the Internet, join and use the BFI resources in London.
- Group work – Students often have to undertake group production coursework. The dynamics of working within a group will be discussed further: suffice it to say for now that no one should aim to dominate a group and no one should be non-contributive, have regular absence during group work and fail to support others.
- Evaluative – Students are encouraged to develop a capacity to reflect on their own strengths and weaknesses. Where needed, strategies are devised in order to remedy weakness but highlighting strengths is also a prime objective.
- Oral – Verbal communication is vital in group work and class discussion. Never be afraid to ask a question. As early as possible a dialogue between your teachers should be established. Your work and your progress are individual to you: this dialogue is a crucial means of enhancing that.
- Presentational – You may well be asked on more than one occasion to present something to the class. You may be part of a pair, a group or on your own. The ability to appear confident, in command of a subject and to communicate information to others is a valuable and prized skill.
