media studies goes digital

Media Studies students in Brent Schools improve their exam results using digital technology to create an advertising campaign for a new fragrance or confectionary: this includes two full page magazine adverts and a billboard design, using original photography and graphics. To be accompanied by a written evaluation and planning notes.

Students must produce three advertisements after carrying out market research and becoming familiar with advertising techniques. They have to produce a brand logo, brainstorming, possible language techniques and consider psychological techniques of persuasion.

The practical was developed by teachers working with staff at the City Learning Centre to learn digital photography techniques and how to carry out image processing using Photoshop. Students will already have gained some basic skills in image processing by using the CLC at KS3 as part of their Digital art unit.

Extra curricula Media workshops run weekly at the CLC enabled students to work independently on production work to meet deadlines. The scheme of work for the relevant units of the OCR 1918 Media studies sylabus can be downloaded and easily adapted for other exam boards.

Using the CLC to support mainstream curriculum work has a marked effect on raising achievement and improving exam results by motivating students in a non school like environment and providing them with state of the art, software, hardware and training by experienced staff.

'Into Media' is a creative curriculum resource produced in collaboration with the Preston Manor High School Media studies department and the City Learning Centre. Its aim is to facilitate the production of creative course work to improve examination results and is currently being trialled by three schools.