A2 Coursework: B324 Deadlines (2017-18)

28th August: x30 research tasks:

• 10 short films
• 10 posters
• 10 film reviews

Or the equivalent texts, dependent on your chosen brief. 

25th September: All research tasks completed:

• 30 set
• 10 independent
• Target audience research

16th October: All Planning documents:

• Script
• Storyboard
• Animatic

11th December: First complete draft:

• Main video
• Ancillary 1
• Ancillary 2

5th February: Final drafts:

• Main video
• Ancillary 1
• Ancillary 2

5th March: Evaluation & Blog complete

A2 Easter Homework

Respond to the following #pomo question

• Explain why the idea of ‘postmodern media’ might be considered controversial

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Delve into the resources related to Q1a and Q1b.

Work on your evaluation.

You know where I am if you need me! :-)

A2: G324 Evaluation & G325 1a / 1b

What follows is info and links to support you in writing your coursework evaluation and beginning your preparation for Section A of the exam.

G324: Advanced Portfolio in Media (Evaluation)

Your evaluation requires you to respond to the following questions:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
2. How effective is the combination of your main and ancillary texts?
3. What have you learned from your audience feedback?
4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

This is to be presented electronically in one of the following forms:

• a presentation using slideshow software such as PowerPoint
• a blog or website
• a podcast
• a DVD with 'extras'

You may have noticed that there are less questions compared with your AS evaluation. However, the expected response to each of these questions should demonstrate a far more technical and detailed approach.

Useful Links:

What is evaluation?

An A* student's blog

Another A* student's blog

G325: Critical Perspectives in Media (1a / 1b)

Moreover, this is not your only chance to evaluate your coursework. You will also have a synoptic evaluation of your coursework in your final exam. This will be in essay format responding to two questions. You should spend 30 minutes on each one.

1a - You will be required to describe and evaluate your technical skills over the course of your production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio. The focus is for you to reflect on and evaluate the way your skills have developed. You will be required to adapt your response to two of the following production practices:

• Digital Technology
• Creativity
• Research and Planning
• Post-production
• Using conventions from real media texts

1b - You will be required to select one production and evaluate it in relation to a media concept. The list of concepts are as follows:

• Genre
• Narrative
• Representation
• Audience
• Media Language

Useful Links:

Media Theory presentations 1, 2 and 3

Media Language - Huge Resource

More Media Theory

Approaching Question 1a

How to prepare for question 1b

How to do an exam answer

Responding to 1a

A note on blogging...

A brief guide for AS student's who have begun blogging...

1. Check out previous students blogs to develop an understanding of what to include/write about; expectations in terms of post length/quality; and how to use/embed media including video, audio and documents.

The following blogs are a good place to start...

• Serena Moriarty
• Heather Casey
• Lucy Taylor
• Joshua Gray

2. Blog regularly - a minimum of once a week.

3. Your blog is your 'Foundation Portfolio in Media'. It is a record of the stages of your coursework: Research, Planning, (Post)Production, Evaluation. Therefore, it needs to be detailed and well written. Proof read your posts. Your blog will be marked and will be sent for moderation.

4. All of your posts should demonstrate learning and understanding. And where appropriate, given the purpose of the post, include evidence of analysis, reflection and evaluation. This may also include work done with me as there are direct links between the two sides of the course.

5. Evaluation is one of the most important skills at AS Level. See this document for additional guidance on what 'evaluation' is.

6. Finally, post rather than draft. You can edit/add to posts, even if they have been published. Mr Ford and I can only help you if we can see where you are at on your blog. If you keep lots of drafts we can not help you and will likely draw the conclusion that you are behind with your work.

Remember, you can get in touch with us via email or Twitter. And don't forget to ask your A2 peers. Josh, Hannah, Lucy, Danni, Avvy, Alice & Alice will be more than happy to help you.

Happy blogging...

Mr. M.

Concept of Consumption

When completing your evaluations don't forget to consider the place of consumption for your film/music video/ads etc...

Here is an interesting example on 'Short of the Week'.

Media @ CCC Blog Update

Current AS and A2 coursework blogs can be found in the sidebar. Please scroll down to see this years' coursework in progress.

There is now a coursework archive with all students blogs created since the introduction of the new OCR 4-unit syllabus. This includes AS blogs from 2009 and 2010 and A2 blogs from 2010.

A2 Coursework: What does an A* look like?

This student got an A* for his A2 coursework.


Check out his blog: http://tidbym.wordpress.com/

A2: Sample Questions for Q1a and 1b

Sample Questions 1a

Sample Questions 1b

Year 12 and 13 Cover for Monday 10th May

One and all - I'm sorry but I am under the weather and will not be in today.

Year 13, to make up for missing today there will be a lesson this Wednesday P5.

Year 12 I will arrange an extra session for you as well and let you know when that will be.

In the meantine:

Year 13: Continue with your research/revision in to your key conceptual areas and prepare your presentations for Thursday's double lesson. 

Ryan, Lewis and Jamie - you all need to work on your blog today - I can give you 24 hours more to get things looking smarter and then I will have to take what is there as your final work!

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Year 12: Please do some revision for your exam.  Watch from 0:33 until 7:02 from the opening of "Kidulthod" - make notes and answer the following question in full please (that means 3/4 sides of writing!)

Dicsuss the way age is represented in the extract considering the use of the following:

• Camera
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene 

Haydn, Shawnee and James - you all need to get your coursework sorted.  You have 24 hours to make sure your blog and evaluation are as they should be or I will mark what's there and you will have to live with the result!

Any problems please e-mail me!

Regards
Mr. M.

AS/A2: Work Required + Half Term

Due in - Friday: 

• AS Coursework - a copy of your thriller (whatever shape or form that might be in!)
• A2 coursework - a copy of your main text + your ancillary texts (whatever state they are in.)

If you need to film during the break, you may collect equipment on Friday.  I am indisposed all day Thursday.

Also, please make sure that your blog is updated and if you have been remiss in keeping it up - this is your opportunity to sort that out!  There will not be time to do this at the end, the evaluation for both AS and A2 requires time and effort!

On top of all of this please ensure that you complete any work that Mr Ford has set you.

If you have any questions please e-mail me.  It is very easy to bury your head in the sand at this stage of the game, please do not do this!  I am here to help you.

Mr. M.

A2: Extra Lesson With Mr. M. Every Wednesday Period 5 In Room 79.

There is now an extra media lesson every Wednesday P5 with Mr Michie.

This is not optional but a requirement to make sure that all A2 students achieve their full potential!

Mr. M.

AS: Coursework updates...

...please c vle course 4 updates 2 deadlines, reminders about blogging, evaluation questions & guidance on how the rough cut & final cuts of your films r 2 b submitted!

Remember, if u have any questions please c Mr. Michie...he is always happy 2 help!

Y12 ILP DAY - FEEDBACK!

Here is the feedback from Y12 students about their first ILP Day.

100% of students approached the day with either optimisim or expectency.

100% of students found the peer / teacher assessment of their "continuity task" to be very useful.

86% of students found the teacher led session on storyboarding, sound and colour useful.

100% of students found the time to work on their storyboards and animatics very useful and based on the comments added, was the part of the day the students most enjoyed.

Overall, those students who responded to the survey found the day to be well planned with the right amount of teacher led activity and independent work.

60% of students felt the day was "worth doing" and 40% felt they could not get by without it.

Mr. M. has also noted that biscuits / cakes would be a good addition and will ensure that this is not overlooked next time!

Y12 Cover Work from Mr Michie - Monday 30th November

Please make sure that your blog is up to date and has all sections completed to an excellent standard - use this as an opportunity to get this area of your coursework on track.  Don't forget: locations, props and costumes, actors / actresses should have been investigated, decisions made, photographed and blogged.

See these blogs as a guide to the standard you should be aiming for:

Clare's blog

Andrew's blog

I will see your presentations / animatics on Thursday!

Mr. M.

A2 - Y13 ILP (Session 2) - Feedback

Here is the feedback from Y13 students about their second ILP Day:

Q1: What were your objectives for the day?

Responses were varied due to students setting their own objectives - however they all had clear targets and most of the students objectives were realistic within the time frame of the day.

Q2: Did you meet your objectives

Yes - 100%
No - 0%

Q3: How did the day help you achieve your objectives, or develop the progress of your coursework.

Responses again were varied - here are some sample comments:

• "it was very useful to have a period of time where you were free to get on with your work and have access to all the equipment.  I was able to get a lot done and quicker"
• it gave me a whole day to film and upload footage, see what needs to be re-shot and then I still had time to go out and film again."
• "got a large time consuming process out of the way - more time to focus on production and filming..."
• "i was left to get on with what I needed to do but could still ask for help..."

Q4: In what ways can we improve the day for you.

Responses here were very brief with most students feeling that the day was a success over all.  Here are some suggestions:

• "examples of good animatics, rough cuts to provide comparisons
• "maybe some time put aside for us to blog - might help encourage us...to evaluate our progress..."
• "better Internet connection in media hub"

A2: What is Evaluation?

Useful document from Mr Ford on what evaluation is...

What is Evaluation?

View more documents from jamesmichie.

Don't forget to use the PowerPoint here, this has examples of how to evaluate within your blog.

A2 - Y13 ILP Feedback

9 of the 13 students who attended the first ILP day completed the "feedback survey".


The sessions that students felt were most useful were:

• Session 1: Presenting animatic and receiving feedback

• Session 4: Improving their animatics

• Session 2: Reflection and evaluation (followed closely behind Session 4)

The session deemed to be of least use was:

• Session 3: Blogging...

Overall it was felt that session 2 and 3 were too long and that I spoke for too long. For future ILP Days I will seek to make them more interactive and practical to maintain student engagement throughout.

Y13 ILP Day 1 - Resources

Here are the PowerPoints used for sessions 2 and 3.

REFLECTION AND EVALUATION

View more presentations from jamesmichie.

A2 BLOGGING

View more presentations from jamesmichie.

AS: Guidance for your evaluation!

Thriller Evaluation Questions Guidance

View more presentations or upload your own.