Media Welcome to Stratford-upon-Avon College and to the Media Department. Your course is one of several being delivered within this highly successful area and it is our aim to ensure that all students get the best possible tuition available.

This Course Handbook is designed to help you find out more about your course, the college and the facilities that are available to you. The following pages will provide information which is essential for your successful completion of your course. It is important that you read the Handbook at the beginning of the year and keep referring to it throughout the duration of your course for future reference.

MediaLevel 3 Extended Diploma in Media

Course Handbook 2015 – 2017

You are bound to have a number of questions about your course, especially in the early days. Please feel free to ask any member of the course team if there is anything you would like to know more about.

All of the Media courses are designed to help you develop the skills and acquire the knowledge that will eventually help you to progress to further studies here with us on the HND or University and/or into employment. We hope that you will find your course exciting, relevant and challenging. We also believe that it is designed so that you will be working hard but having fun at the same time.

We look forward to a successful time with you.

The Media Team

Some Common questions answered:

What is an Extended Diploma?

An Extended Diploma is a practical, work related course and is equivalent to 3 A Levels.

What do I study?

You will study 17 units over two years. This handbook explains what the units are.

How is the Extended Diploma assessed?

You are continuously assessed through projects and assignments. You will be given preliminary grades (Pass, Merit or Distinction) for units once the projects are complete. Your final grade will not be given until the end of the programme when you have completed your Final Major Project.

Assignments are devised and assessed by the Media team. All briefs clearly state expectations and deadlines for your work to be completed. It is your responsibility to ensure that deadlines are met.

If you do not agree with how an assignment has been assessed you can go through an appeals procedure explained in detail later in this handbook.

Will my work be graded?

Your grades are built up over the duration of the course Your tutors will give you feedback on how you are progressing and how you

could improve Work submitted for grading should be clearly labelled and named. You are

responsible for keeping your work safe.

Learning Coach and Academic Tutors

At the start of the course you will be introduced to your Learning Coach, Ilona Kendrick.

The Learning Mentor will be your first point of call for any issues that arise other than those related to your course. You will have a tutorial session with your Academic Tutor every week. This session will provide you with an opportunity to discuss aspects of the course and the college as well as a range of other issues which affect you, which could include progress on the course, assignments, application to higher education, portfolio presentation, employment, careers advice or personal issues. Tutorials are timetabled for one hour a week, some sessions will be individual tutorials, and others will be group sessions. Your tutor will give you information regarding the course or any other activities that may be relevant. You will also be able to make appointments to see your learning coach and academic tutor on an individual basis.

The Learning Mentor and Academic Tutor will monitor attendance and coordinate all support for students which may include ALS and cause for celebration or concern.

Learn ZoneWhat is Learn Zone?

Most colleges and universities have what is called a VLE (virtual learning environment). This is where important course related resources can be accessed via the Internet. At Stratford College, Learn Zone is the name for our VLE and is an important resource for all your projects. Learn Zone is a new area and its use is expanding.

What does it contain?Student Forums and discussions, useful information and offers, copies of project briefs, links to useful websites, PowerPoint lectures and videos can be accessed. Career, UCAS and portfolio links and guidance can also be accessed here.

Project BriefsProject briefs form the basis for coursework. Students are presented with the brief at the start of the project. The lecturing staff will introduce the project and be on hand to answer any questions. The project brief includes a standard set of information:

The date issued The area title The name of the staff involved A description of the context for the project – the problem rationale Aims and objectives A completion date (deadline) Assessment criteria

Documentation of work and projectsA detailed and well-presented body of documentation is an essential part of the process of developing and presenting work and ideas for project deadlines and presentations. The documentation, the development of work, content and product, should represent a visual and written diary and explanation of how the work progressed from initial ideas to the finished product. During the initial stages of the course, staff will teach you and show you examples of how the documentation can be put together.

Group Discussions (Critiques)

Throughout all stages and in all areas of the course, students are encouraged to engage with the course by discussing their own work and ideas with staff in tutorials and group discussions of their own work and that of others, in TV studio reviews and seminars. Group discussions (Critiques/Crits) are seen as an essential part of the course, encouraging students to evaluate and assess their own experiences and progress.

Self-reliance and working independentlyAs the course unfolds, students are expected to become more self-reliant, organised and capable off working independently, to the extent that they begin to direct and determine their own pathway through the course. Students are supported in this, through tutorial discussion and guidance. Additionally, students are encouraged to look beyond the course and curriculum to a wider cultural context for their work. This should involve independent visits to exhibitions and sites of interest, additional reading and research, and an increased awareness of the context of their emerging practice as Photographers.

Appeals Procedure

This is a summary of the procedure to follow if you are unhappy with the way that a piece of work has been assessed.

1. Firstly take up the matter with the person who assessed the work. This should be done as soon as possible after you receive the feedback. Explain to the assessor why you are not happy with the decision. In most cases the matter will be resolved at this stage.

2. If you are still not satisfied, then you will be asked to complete a form, which will be forwarded to the Internal Verifier for your course (normally the course leader) along with the work that was assessed. Within five working days the Internal Verifier will re-assess the work and let you know what the decision is.

3. If you are not happy with this decision, then your case will be referred to an Appeals Panel which you can attend and put your case, accompanied, if you wish, by a friend. Within three working days a decision will be given to you. The decision of the Appeals Panel is final.

Written Work

If you feel that you may have difficulty with this aspect of the course, due to English not being your main language, or because you have been diagnosed as dyslexic or have a learning difficulty, you can talk confidentially about this matter with your Learning Mentor. Specific arrangements can be made to enable students who have difficulty with written work to undertake and complete this part of the course.

In general, students are advised to have their written work typed for submission. The lecturer who is responsible for assessing the work may insist on this if the student’s handwriting is considered to be illegible.

When using a computer to type and format the work, remember to save the text as you go along and make a backup copy on a CD or Memory Stick.

Students who are unable to complete work by the proposed deadline, due to illness, absence from the course, etc., should discuss the matter with the lecturer concerned and submit a request for extension that you will find at the back of this handbook.

Guidelines for Written and Practical Work: Content Structure and Presentation

At the start of the course each student will receive detailed guidelines on how to research, structure and present written coursework. Students are expected to adhere to these guidelines when undertaking any project work.

Assignment Completion Dates Policy

As part of your course you will be assessed through a series of assignments which must be completed in order for you to achieve your qualification. Assignment launch dates and completion dates are carefully considered so that an appropriate amount of time is allowed for you to complete all of the necessary tasks.

Assignment completion dates must be adhered to. Learners are given one opportunity to achieve each criteria.

In exceptional circumstances, due to a medical condition or family bereavement for example, a student may request an extension. A request for an extension must be made, in writing, to the Head of Area no later than 4 days before the assignment completion date. Computer / printer failure, coughs, colds and minor illnesses are not valid reasons for an extension request.  

If a student fails to submit work by the completion date the following will occur:

1. The student will be given 10 days in which to submit the work.

2. The marking of late work will not be prioritised

3. The student will be required to attend a formal meeting with the Head of Area / Programme Leader for their course. (Parents/Guardians of students under the age of 18 years will also be invited to attend) It must be appreciated that failure to meet agreed deadlines could result in failure to achieve the qualification and ultimately exclusion from the course.

Submission of Work for Assessment

Never leave work on desks! Work should be submitted into Learner Services where it will be ‘checked in’. On ‘checking in’ you will be given a receipt of your submission. Please hold onto these receipts in case work gets mislaid. Never leave work without it being ‘checked in’. Always make sure your work is well presented. You may use a PC but hand-written work will be graded the same. Poor presentation or illegibility may lead to repeating the assignment.

Plagiarism and Research‘Plagiarism’ means to take the work of someone else and pass it off as your own written or practical.

The College has very strict guidelines on plagiarism. The increasing use of the Internet for research has led to a number of incidents where students have simply downloaded pages and claimed it as their own work. This is not acceptable and all work is checked thoroughly. If work is found to be downloaded or copied – either from the internet or any other source, students will be disciplined. Remember most of the information provided online is simply ‘opinions’ and with no governing body there is no-one to check that what you have found is factually correct. Always cross reference with different sources ie books and internet! Read the information first, then make your own notes.

It is very important to understand the difference between quoting or referring to articles of research and simply downloading them. When using any resource for research, be it internet, papers or books, always remember to include a reference and supply a bibliography. This will ensure you get some credit for the hours you spend hunched over the computer rather than problems for plagiarism!

General Course Rules Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes on your timetable including any GCSE, Functional Skills or Enrichment sessions, plus additional rehearsal times for projects and performances. Less than 90% attendance may result in you failing a unit or trigger disciplinary proceedings. Any non-attendance due to illness MUST be supported by a doctor’s note, and if you are ill or unable to get into College you must phone Reception/Learner Services before 10.00 am so that a message can be sent to your Personal Tutor & Learning Mentor. This number is:

01789 266245 Lateness

Lateness is unacceptable as it seriously disrupts sessions and distracts others. At the discretion of the lecturer admission to the class may be refused and ‘cause for concern’ notice may be issued.

Holidays

Please note that you MUST NOT take holidays during term time. Failure to attend any lesson or rehearsal without a valid reason will be reflected in your grades. Taking a holiday during term-time is not a valid reason for absence.

Work and Other Commitments

For some students a part-time job is a necessity. However, you must consider the fact that you have committed yourself to being a full-time student, a job in itself in that it requires work from you outside of the 9.00am – 4.00pm college day. You will be required to maintain regular, structured practice sessions and study other aspects of your course in your own time. Taking on too much work outside college (this may also mean additional dance classes, theatre groups, band rehearsals) can jeopardize your development and to complete college work to the best of your ability. Remember, you also need time to wind down and relax too!

You need to be available 9.00am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, so aim to organise any paid work for evenings or weekends. From time to time you will be expected to take part in performances/activities outside of College hours. When you find yourself in this situation you must ensure that whatever work you decide to do outside of College does not adversely affect your College work or the work of other students. Please discuss any such matters with your Learning Coach.

Private Study

You will find on your timetable that there are times when you are not being taught. This should be regarded as private study or rehearsal time, and should take place in assigned resource centre’s such as the LearnZone or rehearsal rooms and never in corridors where you may disturb the work of others.

Session Application

When you attend lectures, you should be punctual and in a fit state. ALWAYS have writing materials for making and keeping notes. The inability to produce or refer to notes may affect your grades. You are also required to wear suitable clothes for the subjects you are undertaking and abide by the health and safety guidelines given by your lecturer (this may include the removal of body piercings). Failure to do so will result in you being asked to leave the class.Please ensure all mobile phones are switched off before entering a teaching space.

Booking Equipment / Rooms /Studios

Equipment and rooms can be booked with the Technical Support Team – the procedures will be explained to you during the first few weeks at College. The Technical Support Team will give you a full introduction to the main spaces and the equipment that you will use during your time on the Course. This will include a briefing on the issues of Health and Safety within the Media area.

Very Important

As a student at the college it is expected that you will behave responsibly and with respect at all times following the college Respect Code. We want you to get the most from the facilities and equipment that are available to you but you must use all resources responsibly. Damaged equipment will not necessarily be replaced! Sticking to the systems that are in place to help manage and maintain College resources will:

make the course run smoother extend the lifespan of equipment and facilities help you to learn and appreciate the benefits of good and safe working practice ensure that you can continue to use the equipment.

Abuse of the equipment or the systems will lead to your rights to use it being suspended, and this can result in getting behind on work. It’s not worth being lazy – treat the equipment as if it were your own and get into good habits from day one!

As well as being an individual student you are also a member of several ‘College communities’. You are one of a group of students studying towards a specific qualification. You are one of a number of students with skills and interests in a particular art form or technical discipline. You are a Creative Arts student. You are a Stratford-upon-Avon College student. Remember that as you take responsibility for your own learning you must also respect the fact that other students are at the College to learn too.

Nicky Brooks – Head of Creative Arts

Claire Morley – Programme Leader for Creative Arts

Philip Watson-Smith - Programme Leader for Creative Arts

Learning Coach – Peter Stone/ Ilona Kendrick

If you wish to speak to someone not directly associated with your course, or if you want specialist advice, there is support available from Learner Services. They offer a helpful and totally confidential service. Past students have spoken very highly of the support they have received from all the Learner Services Team.

Additional Learning SupportIf you have a learning difficulty or would just additional support with your written work students can sign up for Additional Learning Support (ALS). This can be an individual or small group session aimed at supporting students with writing skills, planning, coursework or time management issues. It is tremendous benefit to many students throughout the college and sessions will be set up according to the results of your screening tests or by self-referral. If you know that you have any learning needs, such as dyslexia, please inform us and we can help you make the most of the College support network right from the start.

How your final grade is calculated.Each Unit is worth a number of CREDITS (5; 10 or 20)

Each GRADE, (Pass; Merit or Distinction), is worth a number of points per Credit (See Table 1 below)

You then multiply your GRADE points by the number of CREDITS that Unit is worth.

Example 1:You get a MERIT on a 10 CREDIT Unit. The total for that Unit would be:

MERIT(8 points) x 10 CREDITS = 8 x 10 = 80 points

Example 2:You get a PASS on a 20 CREDIT Unit. The total for that unit would be:

PASS (7 Points) x 20 CREDITS = 7 x 20 = 140 POINTS

Points range above pass grade Final Grade

1300-1339 MPP

1340-1379 MMP

1380-1419 MMM

1420-1459 DMM

1460-1499 DDM

1500-1529 DDD

1530-1559 DDD*

1560-1589 DD*D*

1590 and above D*D*D*

You must have 180 Credits to complete the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma. Once you have all your Unit grades, you can then work out your total points and use Table 2 (below) to find your final GRADE.

Table 1 Points per creditPASS MERIT DISTINCTION

LEVEL 2/FD 5 6 7LEVEL 3/ND 7 8 9

Example of calculationAchievement of Merit Merit Merit qualification gradeA learner completing a 180-credit Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma achieves the points required to gain a Merit Merit Merit qualification grade.

Level Credit

Grade Grade points

Points per unit =

credit x grade

Unit 1 3 10 Merit 8 10 × 8 = 80

Unit 2 3 10 Pass 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 3 3 10 Distinction 9 10 x 9 = 90

Unit 4 3 10 Merit 8 10 x 8 = 80

Unit 5 3 10 Pass 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 6 2 10 Distinction 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 11 3 10 Distinction 9 10 x 9 = 90

Unit 12 3 10 Merit 8 10 x 8 = 80

Unit 15 4 10 Pass 9 10 x 9 = 90

Unit 17 3 10 Pass 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 18 3 10 Pass 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 20 3 10 Pass 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 22 3 10 Merit 8 10 x 8 = 80

Unit 25 3 20 Pass 7 10 x 7 = 70

Unit 35 3 10 Distinction 9 10 x 9 = 90

Unit 36 3 10 Merit 8 10 x 8 = 80

Unit 38 3 10 Distinction 9 10 x 9 = 90

Qualification grade totals

180 MERIT

MERIT

MERIT

1410

POINT BOUNDARIES OVERALL GRADE

1300 - 1339 MPP

1340 – 1379 MMP

1380 – 1419 MMM

1420 – 1459 DMM

1460 – 1499 DDM

1500 – 1529 DDD

1530 - 1559 DDD*

1560 - 1589 DD*D*

1590 and above D*D*D*

PLEASE NOTE: These grading boundaries are accurate as of September 2010

For students considering University your overall diploma grade then gets transferred into points. Please see below the conversion table.

UCAS TariffPOINT

BOUNDARIES OVERALL POINTS

D* D* D* 420

D* D* D 400

D* D D 380

D D D 360

D D M 320

D M M 280

M M M 240

M M P 200

M P P 160

P P P 120