Year 11 Media Units 1 and 2

Overview

Course Overview:

In VCE Media Studies, students explore a wide range of media forms, including film, television, digital media, audio media and social media. Students learn to deconstruct and critically analyse media texts, identifying key elements such as narrative structure, visual techniques, sound design, and representation. They develop an understanding of how media constructs meaning and influences audiences.

Through hands-on projects, students will develop their creative skills in media production. This includes writing, directing, filming, and editing their own media products, such as short films, documentaries and digital content.

Units 1 and 2 also explore the relationship between media and society, including issues of media ethics, cultural representation, media ownership, and the impact of media on identity, politics, and social change.

Who is it for?

Media is for students with an open and inquiring mind, who are both academic and creative.

If you want to further your knowledge and understanding of the media industry and create media products, this is the subject for you.

Media is the ideal subject if you have a passion for filmmaking, photography, digital design, communications, or animation. You should also be interested in how the media works and its influence on audiences.

What do you do?

Some of the activities include:

planning a media product, including a design plan and storyboarding
producing your own film, photography, animation or magazine
sharing your media experiences
interacting and collaborating online with other Media students
attending online Media classes
editing and manipulating media texts to create meaning
constructing written responses to films, documentaries and visuals
analysing advertisements, film/TV and print media.

What skills do you need?

There are no prerequisites, but you need to have:

excellent communication skills
excellent time-management skills
some experience with editing software such as Photoshop, Premiere, Gimp, Movie maker, Audacity etc
some experience with using a DLSR or video camera.

What skills do you develop?

You will develop skills including:

applying the media production process to create, develop and construct narratives
analysing the construction of media texts and their messages to an audience
thinking critically about the relationships between media technologies, media products and the society that produced them
analysing of the intentions of media creators and producers and the influences of narratives on an audience

Requirements

You must have a computer with internet access. You must attend online classes and own a headset with a microphone.

You will need personal access to the relevant equipment and software for your chosen media form, for example:

photography form: hardware such as still camera and software such as Photoshop
film/video/animation form: hardware such as a video camera, tripod and editing software such as Adobe Premiere
print form: hardware such as still camera and software such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator.
audio form: recording equipment, microphone, editing software such as Audacity.

You will need to be aware of the health and safety obligations in regard to yourself, your environment and others.

Things to think about

Media is a fun subject, but it is also very challenging. In order to successfully complete both Units, you will need to commit to undertaking a substantial amount of work outside the course lessons. This work should focus on practicing and developing your skills in chosen mediums such as using Photoshop, filming, taking photos and editing. You will also need to keep up to date with your weekly work submissions and keep in regular contact with your teacher. You can expect to spend about 5 hours per week completing your weekly work.
You will submit your work online. Your teacher may communicate with you through phone, SMS, email, online lessons, screencasts and VSV Online. Your teacher can send links, extra resources, remind you of deadlines and respond to your questions quickly.

Things you can do now

Familiarise yourself with media and art products including advertising, music videos, photography, quality TV shows, short films, animations and find inspiration for your own media product.

Get started by looking at some of the tutorials below:

Subjects

We offer one of the largest ranges of subjects of any school in Victoria, from Foundation to Year 12.