Creative Media - Shireland Technology Academy

It is a course for those who wish to consider a career in the Creative Digital Media Industries, rather than just to participate in media recreationally, for example surfing the web or playing video games.

Its aim is to give students the opportunity to gain a broad understanding and knowledge, and develop skills, across the Creative Digital Media sectors, e.g. moving image, audio production, games design, website design and publishing.

From this course students can progress to a more specialised level 3 vocational or academic media qualification, an apprenticeship or the potential opportunity, in due course, to enter employment.

SUBJECT CONTENT
OPTIONAL UNITS

The qualification consists of two mandatory units (Units 1 & 2) making up 50% of the qualification, and a choice of two (from five) optional units.

Unit 1: Digital Media Sectors and Audiences – Explore the digital media industry and all five key sectors that fall under it (Digital Moving Image, Digital Audio Production, Digital Publishing, Website Production and Digital Games Production). You will understand the range of technological platforms used to distribute media, and how each sector has a common production process.

Unit 2: Planning and Pitching a Digital Media Product – You will use your verbal, written and visual communication skills to enable you to formulate, develop and pitch ideas of a media product that you then plan to produce.

The optional specialist units offered within the qualification build on the core and provide learners with an opportunity to develop a wider understanding and appreciation of any two sectors of the creative digital media sector, depending on their interests and motivation.

The two internally assessed optional units are:

Unit 5: Digital Publishing Production
In this unit, learners will gain the knowledge and skills required for the design and development of digital publishing products.

They will also have an overview of how to source materials and then combine them.

Learners will organise and manage the production of a digital publishing product. Focusing on magazine cover design learners will:

Understand about the context and purpose of digital publishing
Learners will learn about digital publishing technology and techniques using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign
Learners will plan and produce and e-magazine for an industry client following professional industry practice

Unit 6: Website Production
In this unit, learners will explore the technical requirements for website production: how to organise and manage the production of a website, plan and prepare suitable content, and create hyperlinks between pages:

In this unit you will:

Know the context and purposes of websites
Know the technical requirements for website production
Produce and review a functioning website.

WHAT CAN CREATIVE MEDIA LEAD TO?

The Edexcel BTEC Level 2 First Award in Creative Digital Media Production provides the knowledge, understanding and skills for level 2 learners to progress to:

Other level 2 vocational qualifications

Level 3 vocational qualifications, such as BTEC Nationals

Level 3 A Level Media Studies

Related academic qualifications

Employment within the creative digital media industry, such as junior roles working in moving image production, audio production or publishing.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

A one hour examination will assess Unit 1 of the course. All other units of work will be assessed internally via coursework and class presentations.

WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED?

You will need to be an imaginative, inquisitive and enthusiastic person, with a genuine interest in the media in all its various forms. You will be learning technical skills as well as writing and research methods. This course is for individuals who are intrigued and inspired by the media and who wish to explore, develop and test their creativity. You will be expected to be a good team worker as well as an independent learner.