A level: OCR Media Studies H409 (start date September 2017, currently the draft specification)
Contact Teacher Mrs J Mann
OCR’s A Level in Media Studies is
designed to widen the intellectual horizons of the student through the analysis
of both global and historical media.
It develops the skills needed to
analyse and compare media products and the contexts in which they are produced
and consumed in order to make informed arguments, reach judgements and draw
conclusions about media issues. Students also create three media products of
their own.
In Unit 1 Media Products (30%), the three media studied are British
television news, British newspapers and online platforms. Unit 1 involves a
comparative analysis of three previously unseen sources under examination
conditions. Students are asked to reflect on how different representations are
created and explore how different audiences are addressed, using a range of
theorists and showing understanding of genre conventions. By the end of the
two-year course, students will have made a trio of their own products and the
second section of this examination asks them to evaluate their own work using
theoretical frameworks.
Unit 2 (40%) concerns Media in a Digital Age, in particular,
its dynamic and changing platforms in a global context. These are, firstly, the
comparison of different approaches between contemporary and pre-1970’s film, radio
and magazine industries; secondly the study of evolving digital media such as
videogames and music video forms; and, thirdly, the analysis of long-form
narrative television drama. Unit 2 fosters the development of reflective
thinking in preparation for three examination questions on the critical debates
about contemporary media.
Practical production remains important.
Unit 3 Making Media (30%) is a
non-examination assessment for which students produce and analyse a linked trio
of their own products. All briefs are cross-media with options such as music
promotion for a new label, a television magazine programme promotion or a
British television soap opera promotion. All briefs include making a video, a
website and a press kit. This is individual (not group) work but students may
use other students to operate lighting, sound, recording and other equipment
under their direction. An ‘evidence trail’ documenting research and planning of
all parts of the brief is required.
At Claremont Fan Court School, Media Studies is taught
in a dedicated media studio with a suite of Apple Macs, Canon cameras, iPads
and Adobe software. Students present their research, planning and evaluation in
blogs using a wide range of presentational tools.
Students develop media literacy, involving higher
order thinking skills such as questioning, analysing and evaluating
information, referred to as critical viewing or critical analysis. (Ofcom
2007).
Competence in media literacy is increasingly necessary
in many fields of employment in addition to the opportunities in media-related
careers. Media students will develop many
transferable skills, both practical and academic. Visits
to the BFI offer valuable industry perspectives.
Below are links to PDFs of examination assessment materials, subject flyer and course outlines.
H409/01 assessment Media Products
H409/01 exam paper resource booklet Media Products
H409/02 exam paper Media in a Digital Age
H409/03 exam paper Making Media
Below are links to PDFs of examination assessment materials, subject flyer and course outlines.
H409/01 assessment Media Products
H409/01 exam paper resource booklet Media Products
H409/02 exam paper Media in a Digital Age
H409/03 exam paper Making Media
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