YEAR 13 LESSON FIFTY-TWO [23rd May 14]: Homework

Today's session was the final formal lesson and involved a discussion relating to Section A of the exam. The recent timed essays were pretty bad. The aim of this session was to have a general discussion about some of the past Section A questions so that students could develop an understanding of how to approach this section of the exam. Attendance was poor...which was disappointing.
ALL STUDENTS MUST SEND ME A DIGITAL MEDIA CASE STUDY. YOU WILL NEED TO REFER TO THIS ESSAY IN THE EXAM. I EXPECT THESE ESSAYS BEFORE TUESDAY.
In the lesson I said that I would post a revision template to the blog. Here it is:

THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDIA

• Students must be aware of institutions that have struggled to survive in the digital world. Why did MySpace fail? Why have Murdoch's PAYWALLS failed to make money? Why did Murdoch's THE DAILY fail?
• Students must be able to refer to examples of media that have thrived in the digital world. For example..the publishing industry with Amanda Hocking and e-books, Rosie Hardy in the world of photography, Khan Academy in the world of digital education, SBTV...etc
• How can mainstream media values and ideologies be challenged in the digital world?
• How has digital media changed the relationship between audience and producer? Students must research this topic as students must offer specific textual reference. I would advise students to research a specific website to examine how the producer communicates with the audience.
• Has digital media created a more democratic world? You must be able to answer this question with specific textual reference. CHINA...Arab Spring...38 degrees...Change.org...etc etc
• Students must be aware of the views of CLAY SHIRKY and ANDREW KEEN.

SECTION A:

• Students must be aware of issues relating to regulation. The student booklets created earlier this year are an excellent resource. YOU MADE THIS RESOURCE. USE IT.
• Be aware of any texts that have been regulated/banned. Who regulated these texts and why?
• Students must be able to apply media theory. KNOW YOUR THEORY.
• Students must be aware of why people consume media.

Recent work has been weak because students are offering very general critical analysis. During the half-term I expect students to be researching and discovering the specific texts that will enable students to construct a far more convincing critical analysis. The coursework was good...now we need to nail the exam.

I WANT THOSE CASE STUDIES AS SOON AS POSS.

USE THE BLOG. ALL THE RESOURCES ARE HERE. USE THE WHITE BAR IN THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE SCREEN.

HOMEWORK: Lots of independent study.

Year 13 LESSON FIFTY-ONE [16th May 14]: Homework

The aim of this session was to provide guidance for the Impact Of Digital Media Case Study and offer resources appropriate for the first section of the exam. Click on resources below.
SKY News:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_NUwhQl7YA
BBC Question Time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRippTigd0U

1. Evaluate how the people who are against the BNP are represented in each product?
2. Why does the media rely so heavily on conflict?
    You may refer to other media texts to support your answer.
3. Multiplatform media can allow access to a wider range of views, including extreme ones.
    Should the media be regulated?
    You should refer to other media products to support your answer.

Eclipse Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2HIda5wSVU
Let The Right One In Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICp4g9p_rgo

1. Evaluate how the two trailers use the narrative technique of enigma to encourage the target audience to watch films?

HOMEWORK: The Case Study [or essay] is due next Friday [last day of term]. Students should attempt the Section A questions but I realise some students are busy with resits and their continued apathy. If you have the time to complete this task...you should complete the task!

STEPHEN SUTTON and Digital Media.

This is an incredible narrative that highlights the power of digital media and, more importantly, the power of the human spirit.
http://www.channel4.com/news/teenager-stephen-sutton-cancer-fundraiser-dies-in-sleep
BBC Article:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27408818
Examples of people using social media to raise money for charity:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27192089

EUROPEAN LAW REGULATES GOOGLE.

Year 13 Students need to be aware of this as it relates to the Impact of Digital media and is also a Regulation issue:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27407017
The Guardian compare this law to China's digital censorship:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/13/right-to-be-forgotten-ruling-quagmire-google
Channel Four News Film:
http://www.channel4.com/news/google-eu-court-right-to-be-forgotten-privacy
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS LEGISLATION?

YEAR 13 LESSON FIFTY [13th May 14]: Homework

The aim of today's session was to continue to explore issues relating to MEST3 Section B and The Impact of Digital Media. Class discussion considered how to apply media theory in an appropriate manner before considering the question:
'The impact of digital media has created a more democratic world.'
To what extent do you agree with this statement?
The class were encouraged to approach this question using references that we have not used in previous arguments. This is a familiar question but students were expected to approach this task using new textual references. Focus was placed on the idea that essays should EVALUATE the implications of the textual focus. The advantages and disadvantages need to be considered.

HOMEWORK: Attempt a three paragraph and conclusion response to the question. I really would like students to provide evidence of independent study and use NEW textual examples to illustrate your views. Feel free to use all the old chestnuts [China....38degrees/Change.org....Arab Spring...London Riots] but we really should be searching for new media references. I WANT TO SEE EVIDENCE OF EVALUATION. Use my exemplar essay as a guide. I would advise students to refer to KEEN and SHIRKY in this response. Use the blog to identify key quotes. Fishymedia has many Keen/Shirky resources.

I am alarmed by the fact that FIVE students failed to attend this lesson. I expect these students to contact me and explain why they missed the session. Some people owe me a lot of work.
THIS IS NO TIME TO BE LAZY. Every session relates to the content of the exam. On Friday students will be negotiating their CASE STUDY title with me. You will have one week to complete the Case Study. You will be expected to refer to the Case Study in the exam. This is a very important section of the course. ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED.

LOOK UP: Viral video attacking social media.

BBC News article:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27348846
LOOK UP video on You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
Independent article:
ttp://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/look-up-video-lifechanging-film-about-quitting-social-media-ironically-goes-viral-with-tweets-from-andy-murray-and-jordin-sparks-9323510.html

IMPACT OF DIGITAL MEDIA RESOURCES

BBC Music Piracy Resource:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27330150
APPLE and BEATS. Channel Four News:
http://www.channel4.com/news/apple-dr-dre-beats-buy-music-tech 
What does Apple want from Dr.Dre? BBC article:
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27340359
Has Itunes changed music? Channel Four:
http://www.channel4.com/news/tens-years-of-itunes-apples-biggest-success
FOALS singer criticises SPOTIFY. Channel Four News:
http://www.channel4.com/news/foals-yannis-mercury-prize-spotify-holy-fire-video
More artists abuse SPOTIFY. The Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/07/spotify-thom-yorke-dying-corpse

Any students attempting to discuss the music industry within their Case Study might want to consider these resources.

YEAR 13 LESSON FORTY-NINE [9th May 14]: Homework

Students were asked to consider Section A of the exam. The texts below were used to generate class discussion:
Text one. ITV advert:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUXvxoqpDg
Text two. ITV encore advert:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFKwzBj43PQ

1. How is the institution of ITV represented in these texts?
2. How has digital media changed how the audience can consume the content of broadcasting institutions such as ITV?
3. Why do people bother to consume media texts? [media theory question].

HOMEWORK: Complete the section A response. Some students owe me an Impact of Digital Media essay. I need these essays ASAP. We still have a lot of work ahead of us and it is important that students continue to complete homework. The only way to prepare for a written exam is to produce some essays so stop being intellectual cowards and get working. I am only speaking to two or three students here....YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE...GET WRITING.
Students need to consider the topic that will be the focus of your IODM Case Study. I will be finalising questions on Tuesday.
LOTS TO DO. NO SLACKING.

YEAR 12 LESSON FORTY-SEVEN [8th May 14]: Homework

Students were asked to produce a Section A response to the two texts below:
THE ENTERTAINERS....ITV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUXvxoqpDg
BBC Drama Advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThHEcmDBXpg
Students were asked to consider the following questions for both texts.....
Audience:
ITV...Where is the audience being positioned by this advert?
BBC..Who is the target audience?
Institution:
What are the brand values of the Institution?
Media Forms:
How are media forms used to shape meaning?
Representation:
How is the BBC / ITV represented in these texts?
I did not get time in our revision session to explore this text but we will be looking at this text next week. Click on link below:
 http://www.kerrang.com/
We might receive e-media as an unseen text in the exam so we need to discuss this text.

HOMEWORK: Students need to be attempting timed essays. You have ALL the past Cross-Media Study questions so I advise students to attempt a couple of these questions. Students should also attempt the questions we discussed in today's session. See you next Thursday..3.35.
Good luck with all the exams next week folks.

YEAR 12 LESSON FORTY-FIVE/FORTY SIX [28th April/ 1st May 14] : Homework

The aim of these two sessions was to reintroduce the class to the skills that will be required when confronting the exam. Students were asked to create their 'Fantasy' Cross-Media Study question. The question was: HOW DO INSTITUTIONS DIFFER IN THE WAY THEY PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS ACROSS DIFFERENT MEDIA PLATFORMS?
Students were also asked to provide an appropriate response to this Samsung Advert from 2012. Click on link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR8A3T6sPzU
The class were asked to consider appropriate content for the following questions:

1. How are media forms used to shape meaning?
2. How is technology represented?
3. Who is the target audience?

HOMEWORK: Complete the Cross-Media question and answer the three questions that relate to the Samsung advert. Students need to be reading ALL the Cross-Media resources that I have provided throughout the course. COURSEWORK was excellent. Now we need to nail the exam.