NCEA Level 2 Media Studies
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Mr R. Wallis.
Media Studies is an exciting and fun subject that will prepare you for future challenges in an information and screen rich society. If you spend time on your phone, or in front of a computer screen, then this is a subject you should seriously consider taking. There are two aspects to this course. The practical component and the theory component. Some standards are essay-based others are not. The course will be made up of a combination of achievement standards after consultation with the class.
Media Studies explores the production, consumption, and content of a range of media. You will explore the characteristics of these media and their social, cultural, political, ethical and economic implications. At Wairarapa College, Media Studies is an engaging, hands-on subject that will allow you to explore areas of the Media. There is the opportunity to work individually and/or as part of a team if that is how you prefer to work.
Media Studies: Plan, Create, Learn - and have fun.
Course Overview
Term 1
The exact standards students will attempt over the course of the year will be determined after consultation with the class at the start of the year. However, in the past, the year has followed this course.
Term 1 is spent learning about the processes involved in planning a media product. You will learn about planning, problem solving as well as a range of different production techniques.
This will involve getting to know the structures of your media product (short film/documentary or other).
Term 2
Term Two is a practical term where you learn about editing, more production techniques as well as completing your media product.
Term 3
Term 3 prepares you for the external - the exact one will be determined after consultation with the class.
The internal will either be:
1. The study of a media product (in 2022 it was Instagram)
or
2. The study of a genre and how it engages its audience (in 2023 it was Dystopian Science Fiction).
As well as the external, the class will complete the final internal. It will be either:
1. The exploration of the implications of an ethical issue such as misinformation (fake news), or the impact of AI on the world's media.
2. The study of the way specific representations in the media impact our perceptions of aspects of society
or
3. The study of the narrative structures of a particular genre and how it engages its audience.
Recommended Prior Learning
There are no prerequisite requirements to take Media Studies. If you want to be creative whilst learning about life in the digital age, then you should take Media Studies.
Contributions and Equipment/Stationery
Media Studies students will need a way to record their own notes - either on laptop or pen and paper - which ever you prefer. It is recommended that students have their own SD cards for use when filming however, the department does have some of its own.
Pathway
Media is everywhere around us. Media studies introduces you to the exciting and expanding global media environment. It gives you the knowledge to
understand how this world works, and the skills to build a rewarding career in it. Media studies puts you on a path to the expanding communications sector, and also to journalism, public relations and the wider media sector.
Do you want to work in communications, helping a range of government or private organizations and businesses build better connections with their
voters, clients, customers or owners? Do you want to be a media creative, making the next streaming movie, you tube channel, or reality TV hit? Then Media Studies is the course for you.
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is approved for University Entrance.
External
NZQA Info
Media Studies 2.1 - Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between a media product and its audience
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Media Studies 2.2 - Demonstrate understanding of narrative in media texts
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Media Studies 2.3 - Demonstrate understanding of representation in the media
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Media Studies 2.4 - Demonstrate understanding of an aspect of a media genre
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Media Studies 2.5 - Produce a design and plan for a developed media product using a range of conventions
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Media Studies 2.6 - Complete a developed media product from a design and plan using a range of conventions
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Media Studies 2.7 - Demonstrate understanding of an ethical issue in the media
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Media Studies 2.8 - Write developed media text for a specific target audience
Disclaimer
COURSE COSTS AND STANDARDS MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE