This very practical course engages pupils with a range of media projects to provide a wide range of skills for further study
This course offers computer-based learning and is assessed by both coursework and external examination. The externally assessed examination unit makes up 25% of the overall grade and each of the three coursework units makes up 25%, for a total of 75% of the overall grade for this course.
In this Level 2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia, which is equivalent to one GCSE grade 9-4, students explore a range of media through written tasks, practical tasks and one externally assessed examination. The three coursework units require pupils to respond to creative media briefs and work independently to demonstrate the knowledge and skills associated with the specific topic.
The tasks reflect real workplace scenarios and offer a valuable experience of media production techniques and general workplace expectations. The Certificate is taught through four units:
Unit 1: Pre-Production skills
This is the externally assessed unit taking the form of a 1 hour 15 minute exam. Pupils will explore the purposes and uses of a range of pre-production techniques, including mood boards, mind maps, storyboards and scripts. They will also learn how to identify the requirements of a working brief and how to respond independently to these.
Unit 2: Creating Digital Graphics
In this unit, pupils will learn the basics of digital graphics editing for the creative and digital media sector. They will learn where and why digital graphics are used and what techniques are involved in their creation. This unit will develop learners’ understanding of the client brief, time frames, deadlines and preparation techniques as part of the planning and creation process.
Unit 3: Creating a Digital Sound Sequence
This unit will enable learners to understand where digital sound sequences are used in the media industry such as radio, film, web applications or computer gaming. Learners will also learn how these technologies are developed to reach an identified target audience. They will be able to plan, create and edit a digital sound sequence against a specific brief.
Unit 4: Designing a Digital Game Concept
This unit will enable learners to understand the capabilities and limitations of a range of digital gaming platforms. They will be able to identify core features of digital games and gain the knowledge to design a game concept proposal that can be presented to a client for critical review.
It is important that pupils speak to Miss Livingston or Mr Simpson before completing their options form, should they be interested in following the Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia or wish to discuss if they would be more suited to the Media Studies GCSE course.
Please note that certain combinations of subjects are not possible, including the combination of Creative iMedia Cambridge National Certificate and Media Studies GCSE.
Is this course right for me?
Pupils looking to join this course should have an interest in ICT, Computing, Media, and/ or Design and Technology. Previous skills and experience in these fields are an advantage, but not a requirement for this course.
What can this lead to?
Learners can progress from OCR Level 2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia to other vocational qualifications, such as the Creative iMedia (Level 3), IT User Skills, IT Professional and IT Practitioner suite of qualifications (Levels 3–4), Cambridge Technicals in IT and Media (Level 3). This course provides an introduction to elements of graphic design, advertising & marketing, radio broadcasting, and video game development.
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It is important that pupils speak to Miss Livingston or Mr Simpson before completing their options form, should they be interested in following the Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia or wish to discuss if they would be more suited to the Media Studies GCSE course.
Please note that certain combinations of subjects are not possible, including any combination of Creative iMedia Cambridge National Certificate, Film Studies and Media Studies GCSE.