Course Description

A new IT course for 2024 Digital Media. New doors are opening in the world of media and communication. Cambridge Technicals are A Level equivalent courses that have a more hands on approach to your studies. They are called vocational subjects that allow you to learn new skills, knowledge and understanding in real world situations. They are recognised by many universities and employers as giving you real world experience in the field of Digital Media.

The two year course begins with two core units. The first one being Media products and audiences where you will learn all about Social Media and the types of products that companies want to help promote their businesses. You will also look at the different types of audiences and how Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Twitch, YouTube, etc. all tailor their content based upon age, gender, interests and many other demographic features.

The second unit is all about planning and the pre-production tasks that have to be done to create a successful Digital Media product. You will study the process of pre-production within the creative media industry. How do you understand and fulfil client requirements while ensuring you are producing a product in a timely and legal way?

In year 13 you will then create a media product that includes print and audio-visual components. This could mean creating Podcasts, vblogging or TV adverts while backing it up with a complete advertising campaign. Understanding key things like shooting material, house styles, editing digital resources (audio and visual). You will also complete a unit on Social Media and the globalisation of Digital Media. How Tweets, Likes, Insta’s can go viral around the world and how they generate income for you and the massive platforms behind them (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.). The final unit is all about creating advertising products or how sound is used in Digital Media. This unit will be something that we can tailor to the type of student taking the course.

To get started

You don’t need to have studied an IT course at GCSE but it will help. The course follows on from the Creative iMedia course we offer at Key Stage 4. If you have the interest in Digital Media and have tinkered around with Tik-Tok, YouTube, etc. then we are sure you can achieve on this course.

 

Exams and Assessment Information

The qualification is a Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Digital Media. It is unit based throughout the 2 years. You complete units and your points are totalled up for your final grade. It is a mix of exams and coursework. This includes exams at the end of Year 12 so that you don’t have to worry about them all at the end of the course. The qualification has full UCAS points.

Year 1: Unit 1: (External exam) Media products and audiences

Unit 2: (External exam) Pre-production and planning

Year 2:

Unit 5-16-18: Short film production (sound and cinematography)

Unit 6: (External exam) Social media and globalisation

Career Possibilities

This course gives you the opportunity to progress to a degree in an information technology discipline or a degree where information technology related skills and knowledge may be advantageous. This course is suited to students who are aiming to work or study further Digital Media. The UK is requiring a massive increase in the number of people who understand how Social Media and other Digital Media resources can be used to grow their companies and industries. If you enjoy using the internet and have urge to work and understand how Digital Media works then this is the course is for you. As already mentioned this course is an A Level equivalent course and so you will be given grades based upon Exams and coursework. The grades are Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction* which all give UCAS points if you are thinking about university. Distinction is equivalent to an A grade at A Level.

GCSE Grade Profile

Students who study this subject normally achieve 4 in ICT or Computer Science and will normally achieve Level 9-4 grades in a range of subjects including a 4 in Mathematics and English