We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the college, and more importantly (to us anyway), to welcome you to A-level media studies.
A-level media-studies isn't just a more difficult version of GCSE media studies. It also isn't just analysing media products (though it is both of these things). When you study media at A-level, we helping you to
- Critically explore a range of viewpoints and ideologies, and explore how they are hidden in media products
- Assess and analyse how media producers can use media products to manipulate and influence audiences in many ways
- To develop and to practice a range of practical skills, and how meaning can be created for audiences
- To challenge, critique and explore a range of potentially controversial perspectives, critically considering the world we live in today
- To prepare students for employment opportunities in existing industries, emergent industries, and industries that are yet to exist
In order for this to happen, have have to have certain expectations of you:
- To have a genuine passion for media. You should be watching TV, listening to music and using the internet in various ways each and every day!
- To email your media teacher if you are going to be late. Obviously try not to be late though.
- Try your best at everything, regardless of whether you think you’ll do well. One thing you will discover quite quickly is that A-level is MUCH harder than GCSE. However, we do not expect you to succeed at everything. Remember that failure is an essential part of getting good at something
Today, we need to get set up, to allow you to do all this from college and remotely
Setting up your blog
All instructions for setting up your blog can be found by clicking here.
Please ignore the bits about labels though. It's a bit confusing. Also, Blogger has recently been updated, so things will look a little strange, but I'm sure we can figure things out
Resources and help
In order to make your experience learning media studies at A-level as pain-free as possible, we have devised a range of resources:
A free, full length revision guide (with every question, every theory, a glossary, exemplar answers, exam guide, articles and loads more)
Every PowerPoint for every lesson for the whole two years
Frequently asked questions about the course
A YouTube channel with videos on media theory, set texts, and practical demonstrations (this is pretty new, so expect loads more to be added later)
At the time of writing, there's well over 650 posts on the media blog, so click around and you'll find all your answers, and loads more besides
If you need any help with anything, be it media studies, issues with technology, or any other problem, please talk to your teacher. We can sort out almost anything, and if we cannot, we can find someone who can.