KS3 COURSE OVERVIEW

BTEC FIRST CERTIFICATE IN MEDIA

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT: MRS ELLIS

The BTEC First Certificate is designed to provide a specialist work related qualification that will develop students’ practical skills and provide an introduction to the basic skills required for employment in the Media industry.

The BTEC First Certificate in Media is equivalent to 2 GCSEs and Level 2 Key Skills. The course has no exam-based assessment and will be taught over five periods per week. It is made up of three, internally assessed, Core and Option Units.

One Core Unit:	Understanding the Media
Two Specialist units from:	Video Production Audio Production Print Production Advertising Production Multi-media Production Photography Techniques Animation Techniques Writing for the Media Web Authoring

During the two year course students will learn through a mixture of classroom teaching, making their own media texts and work experience. This is a course for students who like to make their own media texts. During the course students will be taught how to use DV Video Cameras and how to edit using state of the art Apple-Mac technology. They will also develop their use of desk-top-publishing software and learn to use Dreamweaver to create their own websites.

The two year course will also include some work experience with a local company.

Assessment and Grading

All units are assessed by coursework which is marked by the subject tutors. Each unit is assessed using the grading criteria PASS, MERIT, DISTINCTION. There is also an overall qualification grade calculated from the individual unit grades. To achieve the BTEC First Certificate, all units must be achieved at least to Pass level.

Progression

The BTEC First Certificate offers an introductory vocational qualification whilst retaining the advantages of a general qualification. The course has been developed to provide a route into employment in the large number of career opportunities in the media industry. However, the course will also provide a general introduction to the world of work and should enable successful students to obtain employment in many other related areas.

On successful completion of the course students will also be able to progress by continuing their study in the vocational area. This could lead to a College course or to progression into the Sixth Form where courses are available currently in GCE Applied Communication and Production and Advanced Level Media Studies.