Unit 5 Assignment Brief

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BTEC Level One / Two
First Award in
Creative Digital Media Production
Year 10
Unit 5: Digital Publishing Production
Name: ...................................................................................................
Deadline: ...................................................................................................

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THE COURSE
Welcome to the BTEC First Certificate in Creative Digital Media Production. You will find this
a practical, work-related course where you will learn by completing projects and
assignments based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands.
We aim to help you to develop your creative and technical skills, as well as helping you to
gain an understanding of the underlying theory of digital media production. In addition to
learning about the employment area you have chosen, you will develop the skills needed to
start a career in the media industry.
To do this, you will be required to produce a portfolio of practical productions supported by
paperwork and theoretical research. To be successful in doing this, you will have to work
both independently and within groups in a professional manner, showing yourself to be
organised, resourceful, reliable, committed and being capable of meeting strict deadlines.
We hope that you will benefit from this challenging, yet rewarding course and that it will
lead to you continuing your studies or eventually finding a job in the media industry.
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YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
 You are expected to treat all equipment and accommodation with care.
 You are NOT allowed to bring food, drink or chewing gum into work areas.
 You may NOT use mobile phones while you are working, unless otherwise instructed.
 NEVER allow other students or friends to use equipment booked out to you, and do not
leave equipment unattended at any time. If it is damaged, lost or stolen, it is YOUR
responsibility!
If you experience any problems with equipment, ask for help from your teacher. Do not try
to repair equipment yourself.
Please remember
It is your responsibility to back up your work onto a memory stick at the end of every lesson. You
are responsible for saving your work to the hard drive of the computer and the safekeeping of your
original material. Please remember to take your memory stick at the end of every session, and only
use the memory stick to transport work. All work should be backed-up on computer hard drives. You
must provide a folder for each unit and bring it to every session. You will also be introduced to a
referencing system to allow you to produce comprehensive bibliographies of the materials you have
used in your study.
How to contact your teacher…
Telephone: 020 8498 1300
Blog: https://zcmediastudies.wordpress.com
Google Mail: zchristodoulou.317@kingsolomonhigh.com
Twitter: @ZCMediaStudies
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Unit 5: Digital Publishing Production
Unit Introduction
Have you read a book or a magazine and wondered what it would be like to have more
information on the page? Digital publishing can provide you with this information. You can
read about a subject, watch a video or hear audio clips that make the information
memorable.
Print and publishing technology and techniques have moved a long way from a potato
print, linocut or lithography. Many publishers are now producing their products using digital
technology. This increases their opportunity to reach new markets, expand the content of
their product and provide interactive links to services and products. Audiences can use
digital publishing products in a variety of ways. This might be using a reader, such as
Kindle®, to read a book or magazine. It may well be through the Internet using a handheld
device – for example, a mobile phone or a tablet. These products can also be viewed
through a games console, such as a PlayStation®.
Digital publishing products can be updated regularly to provide up-to-date information and
news. Information on the page can be viewed as a live feed or as recorded video or audio.
This makes digital publishing an effective means of communication.
In this unit, you will investigate the context in which digital publishing products exist, as
well as their purposes and uses. You will gain knowledge and the appropriate skills required
for the design and development of digital publishing products, as well as an overview of
how to source materials and combine them. You will learn to organise and manage the
production of a digital publishing product, plan and prepare content suitably and create
interactivity between text, images and graphics. You will also test your completed
publishing product on different publishing platforms and then publish your finished digital
publishing product.
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Learning Aims
In this unit, you will:
A – Know about digital publishing opportunities
B – Understand the use of digital publishing technology and techniques
C – Produce material for digital publication
Learning Aims Content
A.1 – What are digitally published products?
A.2 – How are digital publishing products used?
A.3 – Where are digitally produced products published?
A.4 – Traditional printing and publishing technology and techniques
A.5 – Publishing in the digital age: technology and techniques
A.6 – Combining images, texts, graphics and interactive elements in digitally published
products
B.1 – Acquisition of digital material
B.2 – Digital tools to import materials
B.3 – Experimenting with digital tools to produce digital publishing material
B.4 – Naming logging and storing digital materials correctly
C.1 – Develop concepts for a digital publishing product
C.2 – Pre-Production for a digital publishing product
C.3 – Production of a digital publishing product
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Assessment Criteria for Unit 5: Digital Publishing Production
Level 1 Level 2 Pass Level 2 Merit Level 2 Distinction
Learning aim A: Know about digital publishing opportunities
1A.1 Outline the uses
of a limited range of
digitally published
products.
2A.P1 Describe the
uses of digitally
published products.
2A.M1 Explain the
uses of digitally
published products.
2A.D1 Compare the
uses of digitally
published products.
1A.2 Outline the
advantages of digital
publishing compared
to traditional
publishing.
2A.P2 Describe the
publishing compared
to traditional
publishing.
2A.M2 Assess the
publishing compared
to traditional
publishing with
examples.
2A.D2 Evaluate the
publishing compared
to traditional
publishing with
detailed examples.
1A.3 Outline how text,
images, graphics and
interactive elements
are combined in a
digitally published
product.
2A.P3 Describe how
text, images, graphics
and interactive
elements are
combined in a digitally
published product.
2A.M3 Assess how
and interactive
elements are
published product.
2A.D3 Evaluate how
and interactive
elements are
published product.
Learning aim B: Understand the use of digital publishing technology and techniques
1B.4 Use tools to
acquire and import
digital content.
2B.P4 Use tools
adequately to acquire
and import digital
content.
2B.M4 Use tools
effectively to acquire
and import digital
content.
2B.D4 Use tools
creatively to acquire
and import digital
content.
1B.5 Demonstrate
limited use of digital
tools for publishing
production.
2B.P5 Demonstrate
appropriate use of
digital tools for
publishing production.
2B.M5 Demonstrate
an effective use of
digital tools for
2B.D5 Demonstrate a
confident and
comprehensive use of
digital tools for
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Learning aim C: Produce material for digital publication
1C.6 Develop a basic
concept for a digital
publishing product
with minimal planning.
2C.P6 Develop an
appropriate concept
for a digital publishing
product with adequate
planning.
2C.M6 Develop a
creative concept for a
digital publishing
product with detailed
planning.
2C.D6 Develop an
imaginative concept
for a digital publishing
product with
comprehensive
planning.
1C.7 Produce digitally
a basic publishing
product, which shows
a limited interpretation
of the brief.
2C.P7 Produce
digitally an appropriate
publishing product,
which shows an
adequate
interpretation of the
brief.
2C.M7 Produce
digitally a creative
publishing product,
which shows a
competent
brief.
2C.D7 Produce
digitally an imaginative
publishing product,
which shows a
confident
brief.
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THE BRIEF
You have been approached by Zed Publishing Ltd, a local publishing company, to develop
an electronic newsletter that can be read on a number of digital platforms, including
personal computers, tablets and smartphones. This will enable you to include interactive
features, such as audio clips, video clips and links to other texts or sites.
The newsletter will be an information-based product about youth culture in Redbridge,
aimed at 14 to 16-year-olds. Expected topics for the newsletter include music, sports,
fashion and extra-curricular clubs.
The expected release of the first newsletter will be during the spring season.
An example of a digital print-based text – complete with interactive features.
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TASKS
TASK ONE
(Unit 5 = 1A.1, 2A.P1, 2A.M1, 2A.D1; 1A.2, 2A.P2, 2A.M2, 2A.D2)
Create a slideshow that discusses the range of digital print texts available, as well as the
devices on which they are accessible.
Your slideshow should also include an evaluation of the potential advantages of using
digital publishing compared to traditional publishing methods.
Remember to include a bibliography of references regarding your used sources.
Things to consider:
i. Definition of digital texts (including examples).
ii. Explanation of analogue (including examples).
iii. Explanation of digital (including examples).
iv. Examples of digital print-based texts (digital comics, digital instruction manuals, e-
leaflets, e-magazines, e-newsletters, e-newspapers).
v. Examples of devices used to access digital print-based texts.
vi. Advantages of digital print-based texts.
vii. Disadvantages of digital print-based texts.
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TASK TWO
(Unit 5 = 1A.3, 2A.P3, 2A.M3, 2A.D3)
Create a slideshow that evaluates the use of interactive elements in digital publications.
Also, explain how and why these individual interactive elements are combined.
Remember to create a separate bibliography that references your used sources.
Things to consider:
Interactive features (audio; video; graphics; links; page navigation).
i. Explanation of each interactive feature.
ii. Examples of each interactive feature.
iii. Advantages of each interactive feature.
iv. Disadvantages of each interactive feature.
v. Explanation of why these interactive features are combined in digital texts.
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TASK THREE (A)
(Unit 5 = 1C.6, 2C.P6, 2C.M6, 2C.D6)
Create a handout entitled ‘Top Ten Tips for Creating a Magazine Advert’. As well as giving
your top ten tips, illustrate two examples of good adverts and two examples of poor
adverts, with explanations of why they were chosen.
Things to consider:
Top tips; examples of good; examples of poor.
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TASK THREE (B)
(Unit 5 = 1B.4, 2B.P4, 2B.M4, 2B.D4; 1B.5, 2B.P5, 2B.M5, 2B.D5)
Using Adobe Photoshop, design an A4-sized advertisement that could feature in your final
newsletter. Remember, your advert must link to one of the three topics that will feature in
the newsletter: fashion, music or sport.
Your designs must be accompanied by explanations and justifications of your decisions.
Things to consider:
Layout; fonts; colours; images; interactive features.
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TASK THREE (C)
(Unit 5 = 1C.6, 2C.P6, 2C.M6, 2C.D6)
Create a handout entitled ‘Top Ten Tips for Creating a Newsletter’. As well as giving your
top ten tips, illustrate two examples of good newsletter and two examples of poor
newsletters, with explanations of why they were chosen.
Things to consider:
Top tips; examples of good; examples of poor.
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TASK FOUR
(Unit 5 = 1B.4, 2B.P4, 2B.M4, 2B.D4; 1B.5, 2B.P5, 2B.M5, 2B.D5)
Create an account on Prezi (www.prezi.com). Design a Prezi slideshow that explains and
illustrates how a beginner can use Adobe Photoshop to create an A4-sized advertisement.
Things to consider:
Step-by-step instructions; screenshots; embedded videos; embedded audio; use
of Prezi animations.
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TASK FIVE
(Unit 5 = 1C.6, 2C.P6, 2C.M6, 2C.D6)
Using a creative software package of your choice (Word, PowerPoint, Prezi, Publisher,
Sway), design a planning document that sets out all of your ideas for your [future] final
newsletter.
Things to consider:
Title; colour scheme; articles; images; interactive features; layout of pages; peer
feedback.
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TASK SIX
(5 = 1B.4, 2B.P4, 2B.M4, 2B.D4; 1B.5, 2B.P5, 2B.M5, 2B.D5; 1C.7, 2C.P7, 2C.M7, 2C.D7)
Using Adobe Photoshop, design an A4-sized, four-page newsletter for release across a
range of digital platforms. Remember to include topics that link to the target audience and
the time of release.
Keep a production diary of your progress that consists of screenshots and annotations,
including evidence of file and folder organisation.
Things to consider:
Layout; fonts; colours; images; [imaginary] interactive features.
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Task Deadlines
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Portfolio hand-in
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RECOMMENDED READING
Key:
Author (year), Title (edition), Publisher.
International Standard Book Number
Branston G and Stafford R (2010), The Media Student’s Book (fifth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-55842-6
Connell B (2010), Exploring the Media: Text, Industry, Audience (second edition), Auteur.
ISBN: 978-1-906733-47-6
Long P and Wall T (2009) Media Studies: Texts, Production and Context, Pearson
Education.
ISBN: 978-1-4058-5847-2
McKay J (2013) The Magazines Handbook (third edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-61756-7
Turow J (2011), Media Today (fourth edition), Routledge.
ISBN: 978-0-415-87608-7
The Design Council UK – www.designcouncil.org.uk/about-design/Types-of-design
The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media – www.creativeskillset.org
Wikipedia entry for “Electronic Publishing” – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_publishing
Issuu Publications – www.issuu.com
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Unit 5 Assignment Brief

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Unit 5 Assignment Brief