Class blogs

List of all blogs for BTEC Level 3 groups:

Group 1

Sam Comerford
Tanya McEntee

Group 2

Shuab Ahmed
Mohammed Bham
Marian Hussain

Group 3

Haris Zulfiquar
Haris Umair
Munashe Mukandi
Kashif Naseer

Group 4

Neepa Ahmed
Zakaria Salad
Ashley Johnstone

Group 5

Ayesha Shaikh
Mizbah Iqbal
Shalini Yogamoorthy
Samsia Akhter

For Level 2 BTECS only - Unit 1 - Research Techniques for Media

This is for years 9, 10 and 11 only

For Unit 1 you will need to:

1. Know about research methods and techniques 
2. Be able to use research methods and techniques to investigate an existing media product 
3. Be able to use research methods and techniques to gather material for a media production 
4. Be able to present results of research.

1. Know about research methods and techniques:

To demonstrate that you know about research methods and techniques you will need to present the following in any way that you want. (e.g. Blog post, Prezi, PowerPoint, Short film, animation, podcast etc)

Methods: primary; secondary; qualitative, eg opinions, attitudes, behaviour patterns; quantitative, eg
ratings, circulation figures, web hits
Techniques: using libraries; using the internet; reading; searching archives; interviews; observations; questionnaires; surveys; focus groups; recce
Information trail: log of library; internet and archive searches Collate: sift and select; organise, eg by name, by date, by type, by content, by information source; index
Store: secure storage; ease of access

You should be aiming to create a detailed analysis of different research methods and techniques. You should evaluate research methods with reference to precise and detailed illustrative examples.

For a distinction: methods and techniques will be explained by reference to precise, well-chosen and detailed examples and they will be subjected to some sort of evaluative procedure or weighing up. For example, a learner might comment, ‘The internet will produce information faster than using a reference book but it will produce a lot more which then needs to be sifted through. This may in the end take longer than getting just what you want from a book.’

So you need to write a report in whatever way you want which discusses the different types of research. You will need to research each of the research methods above and write about them in your own words.

Unit 29 Objectives

This is intended to be a sort of check list of things that need to be done to complete the Music Video Unit.

Learning Outcome 1 - Understand the purpose of music videos

Purposes: promotional; extension of income; extension of outlets (music channel, direct DVD and CD sales, website, download); synergy (films, TV programmes); producers’ strategies (major label, independent, artist self-produced)

What you need to hand in: 
This should be done using some kind of presentation software such as Prezi or PowerPoint. It should include a section about the history of music videos.

Learning Outcome 2 - Understand the styles, conventions, and techniques of music videos

Styles: popular music genres; in-concert and ‘as live’ footage; animation (stop motion, digital); interpretative; narrative; impressionist; surrealist; pastiche; parody; referencing; homage; influence of commercials

Conventions: lyric interpretation; extending or consolidating song’s meaning; allusion; links to other artists Techniques: cutting to beat; effects; miming and lip sync; playback and lip sync; multi-mage; camera movements; camera angles; chroma key

What you need to hand in:
Either a presentation or a number of blog posts which go into detail on most or all of the things above.


(N.B. Both LO1 and LO2 could be done on one prezi)


Learning Outcome 3 - Be able to originate and plan a music video production for a specific music track 


This is your pre-production work that should be on your Blogs. I am looking for a minimum of 10 posts but students looking for a Distinction should be aiming for 30+ posts. There should be an ongoing diary of production and filming as well as justification and detail for every decision made. Photos of filming and locations. 


Learning Outcome 4 - Be able to work to complete production of music video 


Work: eg individually, as director, as production manager, as camera operator, as editor 
Production: eg direct action, manage production, shoot footage, create animation, light, create SFX, edit; production log


This is your finished product. You should also have blog posts which diarise the production events - e.g. your edit decision list, production log, photos of editing etc.