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WelcomeA Level Media Studies

A Level Media Studies

• Introduction to OCR• Introduction to Media

Studies• Why change to our

specification?• Support and training• Next steps

Contents

About OCR

• Part of Europe’s largest assessment agency, Cambridge Assessment

• UK’s leading awarding body

• Over 13,000 centres choose our qualifications

• Qualifications are developed in consultation with teachers

OCR’s Mission

Our commitment is to provide qualifications which engagelearners of all ages whether at school, college, in work and part time training

programmes so they achieve their full potential

make a difference

Practical Accessible Innovative and exciting

Our Credentials

• Leading the way with new ideas

• Dedicated to offering respected qualifications

• Engaging and relevant qualifications

• Comprehensive support framework

Media Studies Credentials

• Our Media Studies entries have increased by 6% between 2006 and 2007

• Leading the way for over 7 years

• Continuous dialogue and consultation with the industry

• Favoured by specialist media teachers

Key points of the specification

• Modern content

• Learners are ready for media industry roles

• Combines theory and practical work

• Uses the latest technology

Media Studies | AS Structure

G321 Foundation Portfolio in MediaIn this coursework unit, learners engage with contemporary media technologies, producing

two paired media artefacts from a series of briefs.This process involves progression from a pre-production,

preliminary exercise to a more fully realised piece. The briefs covered print, video, audio and websites

Teaching units and Assessment

method and weighting

Media Studies | AS Structure

G322 Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)G323: Key Media Concepts (Radio Drama)

Centres choose one of the two units above/ These papers cover textual analysis and

representation alongside institutions and audiences. In section A, learners answer

questions on an unseen moving image extra (G322) or an unheard audio extract (G323) which is then linked to some aspect of the

representation within the sequence. In section B, common to both papers, they study a specific

media industry from a choice of film , music, newspapers, radio, magazines or video games.

Teaching units and Assessment

method and weighting

Media Studies | A2 Structure

G324 Advanced Portfolio in MediaIn this coursework unit, learners engage with

Contemporary media technologies to produce a mediaPortfolio through a combination of two or more media.

Then they present their research, planning and evaluation in two or more forms including PowerPoint, blog and

podcast. This is a development of the skills they learn in unit one.

Teaching units and Assessment

method and weighting

Media Studies | A2 Structure

G325 Critical Perspectives in MediaThis paper covers theoretical evaluation or

production alongside a study of contemporary media issues. In section A, learners describe and evaluate their skills development in their

production work and then select one production to evaluate in relation to a media concept. In section B, they choose one topic

and demonstrate their understanding of a contemporary issue through a range of texts,

institutions, audiences and debates. Examples of contemporary media issues include global

media, media in the online age, ‘we media’ and democracy. Two questions are offered on each

topic.

Teaching units and Assessment

method and weighting

Stretch and Challenge

• Stretch and Challenge is a new QCA initiative for A Levels:• Included in A2 assessment• Reflected in the style of question asked which invite a greater variety of thinking• Questions are structured to show more connections between different sections of the

specification• Extended writing is encouraged in all subjects (except Maths0• A wider range of question types – like case studies and open ended questions• More synoptic assessments – exploring connections between different areas and levels of a

subject

What’s in it for you?

• Easy to administer

• Rewarding to deliver

• Flexibility in teaching topics that match your interests

What’s in it for your learners?

• Enjoyable and motivational

• Stretch and challenge opportunities

What’s in it for your school?

• More learner enrolments

• Good progression routes into HE/FE

Support

• Overarching schemes of work and sample lesson plans

• E-community• Exemplar candidate work• Coursework guidance documents• Past papers online for you to

download• Exam quest• More INSET• Annual Media conference

Support

• Our publishing partner Hodder Education has produced further resources to support the specifications. These booked are specifically tailored to the new specification

Next Steps

• Book training events – www.ocr.org.uk/training

• Bookmark website for further information/future updates – www.ocr.org.uk

Other qualifications•GCSE Media Studies

•iMedia•Creative and Media Diploma

•OCR Nationals in Media