Media Studies at The King Alfred School

The aims of the specification are to:

• Enhance candidate’s enjoyment and appreciation of the media and its role in their daily lives
• Develop critical understanding of the media through engagement with media products and concepts and through the creative application of practical skills
• Explore production processes, technologies and contexts
• Become independent in research skills and their application

Media Studies is not just a subject which relies on practical elements. Students need to develop the key concepts of Media, which they do through research and reading around the subject. Students need to be able to analyse at a very high level as there is some use of communication studies and semiotics.

Students must gauge an understanding of how Media Industries work not only for exam work but especially practical coursework. Their music video for example requires them to not only create a piece of video work, but to mirror industry conditions in order to sell an artist using promotional content. All practical work requires an understanding of audience theory work and research into this is expected for each task.

Technical work is also at a high level. Students are expected to be completely knowledgeable and comfortable using video and editing equipment. The media resources are exclusively for media students and programmes like Final Cut Pro which are industry standard and used by students at this level.

New Media Technology and the internet are used to support students, and the department has utilised a blog to update students on coursework, post videos and completed coursework and as a notice-board for the department. The address for this is http://kingalfredmediastudies.blogspot.com/.