Here is our A2 Coursework evaluation response for question 4!

2. We used an array of different media research in order to
collect the sufficient amount of research for our blogs,
this research then lead onto helping us plan our
coursework by looking at conventions used in the opening
sequences of children’s TV dramas.
However, the vast majority of this research wouldn’t
have been capable without the use of the computers (both
in college and at home) and the internet. We stored all
of our video files on a disk drive on the college
computers, which had enough storage space to safely
store all of our unedited clips.
At college we used the operating system Windows 7, but
outside
of college as a group we used a mixture of Apple and
Window devices.

3. Throughout the whole process, we had to use different media
technologies for different aspects of the coursework, for
example, the most used piece of technology would be the
college computers because of their large hard drives and the
access to the editing and post production programs we had on
there.
As an overview, we used Adobe Premiere Pro for the editing of
all the drafts of the coursework. However, for our research
meetings we recorded the meetings in college using the
Panasonic AG-HMC41E and then edited the videos using iMovie
outside of college, this shows that we have an outside
knowledge into editing and weren’t restricted to one editing
program. We shot the images for the DVD and magazine cover
using a Canon DSLR 1100d, this camera helped us to achieve
sharp, HD and clear shots, which ultimately improved the
outcome of both of those products. We then edited the shots in
Adobe Photoshop.

4. Research is possibly one of the most important aspects
of the coursework, because without it we wouldn’t be
able to create final products that fit the conventions
or are real to their mediums. However, none of this
research would be available if it wasn’t for Web 2.0,
because of Web 2.0, we are able to use different methods
of recording and collecting research, like the use of
surveys.
We used SurveyMonkey to help us with our target audience
research, we also used SurveyMonkey to ask teenagers and
the older generation which children’s TV shows they
enjoyed the most when they were younger, we did this to
see if we could see which programs were the most popular
and see if there was anything in the opening sequences
of these shows that could help to inspire us with our
own coursework.

5. One of the most important parts of the coursework is
the blog, without the blog, we wouldn’t be able to
record any of our findings or keep a log of our
planning and research. We had a couple of choices
when it came to choosing a blog, and we considered:
• Wix
• WordPress
• Blog
• Blogger
We chose Wix in the end because we found that we felt
restricted in what we could achieve with the other
blogging platforms, and we already had some past
experience with Wix which meant that it wouldn’t be
difficult to get the blog started.

6. As part of our research, we had to look at real media products so that we
could be inspired by the products already out there and learn about any
necessary techniques and conventions used in the opening of children’s TV
dramas. We used YouTube to look at clips and opening sequences from popular
TV shows such as: Tracy Beaker, As The Bell Rings, Grange Hill, Hannah
Montana and Wizards of Waverly Place. However, when we did our research we
also looked outside of the age range of the target audience and looked at TV
shows that had an older target audience such as Freaks & Geeks and Waterloo
Road. We also looked at a TV show called Chasing Life, which hugely inspired
us with techniques to use in our opening sequence. Without YouTube we would
not have been able to look as nearly as many real media products as we did
and would not have been able to learn from these professional pieces of
media.

7. Facebook also played a large
part in our research process,
using the synergy between
SurveyMonkey and Facebook we
were able to post
questionnaires and surveys for
our peers to fill in. This
gave us a lot to go on and
helped to shape our product to
fit with the target audience.
We also used Facebook to share
each draft of our work (for
each product), with the
feedback (both positive and
negative) we received from
people on Facebook we were
able to deliberate on where
to go next with our product
and how we could improve the
products.

8. What we learnt was that planning of a media product
can only be done with proper research, and we
discovered that planning and research go hand in hand
in making your product. One of the first steps
involved in planning our product was by holding a
meeting.
We used a Panasonic
AG-HMC41E to record
the meetings and then
edited them using
iMovie where we sped
up the meetings and
added music to finish
the videos off before
uploading them to
YouTube.

9. We planned to used a Canon DSLR 1100d when we
shot our photo shoots and behind the scenes shoot
for the products, we chose this camera because of
the high quality of the images and the great focus
which gave us the outcome of the images we were
looking for.
We thought that using a DSLR would be better than a
normal camera because of the smaller size, which
meant that it was a lot more portable.
After shooting the photo shoot, we downloaded the
images onto the computers and as a group we
decided which images we liked the best. From there
we narrowed the pictures down and then started to
put the images into Adobe Photoshop so that we
could edit them.

10. We did a lot of planning and organizing before we did
any filming for the opening sequence so that we were
prepared in advance. We kept in touch over Facebook
Messenger so that we could plan everything in a single
group chat, we chose Facebook Messenger because it was
accessible and we were able to share video clips,
images and even do group video calls if we needed to.
Without Facebook Messenger, we wouldn’t have been able
to organize meeting points or discuss or share
different parts of the coursework or different clips
that we had found. Facebook Messenger featured heavily
helping us communicate outside of college.

11. We discussed meeting times, how long we’d be filming
for and what props we might have needed to take with
us.

12. We had to get permission to film
in the school, so we could go in
and film. For this, we used the
college email (Microsoft
Outlook) to email the
receptionist of the high school
who then forwarded the email
onto the head teacher. After
getting permission we were able
to discuss a suitable date with
the drama teacher for when
some students were free.