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Secondary education

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Original poster

Anyone's LO taking MEDIA STUDIES as an option?

46 replies

MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:03

I really should know the in's and out's of it, since I work in a secondary school, but I haven't had time to visit Media department to find out much about it!

DD wants to do Media Studies as an option next year and my pita mother has suggested it's an easy option and turned her snobby nose up at me!

I assume its not an easy option, is it?

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 25/03/2009 20:06

My not very academic DS took media studies GCSE as an after school club in Y9, Teacher was ill for much of the course and they started in October and took exam in May/June. He was only 13 and got a D.

feedthegoat · 25/03/2009 20:08

Mmmm - I propbably shouldn't admit this as I did it as an A level myself but tbh I have to admit (in secret) I don't think it's the same as an academic subject.

brimfull · 25/03/2009 20:10

according to Chris Woodhead in The Times kids should avoid any subject that ends in the word 'studies' excpet religious studies

don't know how true that is

twinsetandpearls · 25/03/2009 20:12

I am a year 10 tutor and all my students who take media studies with a few excpetions have wanted an easy option.

I would go and chat to the media department to be honest.

Exam paper here to give you an idea.

Quattrocento · 25/03/2009 20:12

I'd raise an eyebrow at meedja studies.

Does this mean that I am destined to be a pita mother in law?

twinsetandpearls · 25/03/2009 20:12

Glad to see you making that exception ggirl I would hate to have to set you lines.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:13

Hmmm, OK. Her plan is, that she wants to be a marine biologist (at the moment, of course!) She will obviously have to have biology and geography I assume, would be a good move. She is particularly keen to have a go at underwater photography/video'ing etc, so I thought Media Studies would be a good option? Maybe I'm barking completely up the wrong tree! Maybe I should make more of an effort to visit the media department and investigate!

This isn't a whim btw, she does have good reason to want to take this course in life. She has just qualified as an open water diver!

OP posts:
twinsetandpearls · 25/03/2009 20:13

I would raise an eyebrow if my dd wanted to take media studies tbh.

BeehiveBaby · 25/03/2009 20:14

I worked very hard to make sure my little sister didn't take it

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:14

Bugger! I hate it when my mother is right! There are many things that make her a PITA, this is just the tip of the iceberg!

OP posts:
Quattrocento · 25/03/2009 20:14

LOL at that paper. Betcha anyone on MN could get an A* without watching the extracts ...

feedthegoat · 25/03/2009 20:15

From my hazy memory (it was 15 years ago!) I honestly don't think it would me any help. Think a photography class would be more use in an evening.

feedthegoat · 25/03/2009 20:16

be not me! See, I'm no advert for it!

twinsetandpearls · 25/03/2009 20:16

I was going to suggest the same feedthegoat.

It would appear quattro that they get to watch the clips in the exam room as well

Lilymaid · 25/03/2009 20:17

What are the other options? I wouldn't encourage my DC to take it if she was academically bright and taking media studies meant she missed taking a more academic subject - or something like Art, Music or Drama. DS' syllabus required shared course work and he found that some of the people in his group mucked about whilst he and one other had to do all the work.

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:20

Hmmm. Photography was another option. She can do that at her school. I have a feeling (and without being PFB/boasting etc!) her tutors will try to put her off it anyway. She's pretty damn good at school! They'll be wanting her to be one of their A* guarantees, to boost their league table rating!

OP posts:
Original poster
MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:23

We've got plenty of time to think about it, obviously. Options have only just been done for this year! It's nice that she's starting to think about things now though.

She's all fired up, after diving. She's already told her instructor that she plans to do her work experience with him in 2011!

OP posts:
edam · 25/03/2009 20:28

I suspect media studies won't help much with photography. It could be interesting as an extra but I wouldn't choose it instead of an academic subject.

Media studies snobs - we are living in the middle of a communications revolution just as significant as the industrial revolution. I think it's quite good if some of our children find out how the media works. Suspect some of the critics would have slagged off English language degrees when they came because they weren't Classics. Or Engineering because it's vocational...

edam · 25/03/2009 20:29

(I didn't read the link, though, because I'm already over my download limits for the month so this particular course could well be utter rubbish for all I know.)

Original poster
MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:32

Well quite, Edam. I think that's why I thought it was a good one to have!

OP posts:
Original poster
MaureenMLove · 25/03/2009 20:33

It could well be, it well be! I think I am thinking far too much, far too soon about this. She'll change her mind between now and this time next year anyway!

OP posts:
LadyGlencoraPalliser · 26/03/2009 22:29

I will personally take out and shoot any of my children who suggest they might like meeja studies at GCSE. If they want a doss subject they can take Food Technology.

magentadreamer · 26/03/2009 22:51

At DD's school Media studies isn't an option subject but they can take it in yr9 apparently they do it along side English. Films studies can also be done this way.

RockinSockBunnies · 26/03/2009 23:03

If your DD is academic then I'd strongly advise her not to take media studies. It's seen as an easy option by good universities and it's a subject that in all honesty is fairly meaningless.

Even if we are in the middle of a communications 'revolution', media studies isn't likely to give much insight into that. Focusing on more 'traditional' and academic subjects like English and history will give your DD the analytical skills to assess broader, socio-economic-political-communication kind of themes that may crop up.

If she's determined to do marine biology then I'd advise her to consider three separate sciences at GCSE. The more sound her academic credentials at GCSE, the more doors will open in the future.

ShrinkingViolet · 26/03/2009 23:10

DD1 did media studies in Y10 as a filler to stop the top set getting bored with English exam practise in Y11. She found it interestign, but not in the least challenging. As an extra on top of "proper" academic subjects I was happy for her to do it, but would have put my foot down if she'd tried to opt for it as a main subject. It wasn't nearly rigorous enough to justify picking, even if that was an area you wanted to work in.