BTEC Interactive Use of Media, Web design fundamentals This is a Level 1 course for people with little or no previous knowledge of computers or designing web pages. It offers an introduction to web design and industry standard software applications like Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver and Flash. The course provides an introduction to topics in the multimedia industry, and includes practical projects along with supporting theoretical studies, planning and development. It will develop the learner’s ability to create a media product giving practical experience in a variety of topics. BTEC Interactive Use of Media Level 1 is offered as A Certificate requiring 4 units Unit 1: Investigate Interactive Media Products Unit 2: Introduction to Multimedia Production Unit 5: Introduction to Web Page Creation Unit 8: Introduction to Animation
What does the course lead to?
You can progress to studying at HNC level and then on to university or possibly direct employment, if you achieve a high enough standard and an impressive portfolio. What background and qualifications do you need to join? You do not need specific educational qualifications to join this course, but must be familiar with computers (Mac and/or PC), preferably with some experience of using Photoshop, In Design, Illustrator.
What does the course involve?
You will develop your creative awareness and learn to use the full range of your abilities to design and produce interactive presentations, which integrate graphics, text and sound in a variety of ways for publication on the Internet, or as free-standing applications. You will learn all the basics of preparing and optimising material then putting it together in different authoring environments to create fun packages for the dissemination of animated digital media. You will be guided through the processes of conceiving, planning, storyboarding and realising your ideas and pick up a lot of important technical information on the way. In the first term you will learn to create and manipulate logos and images in Illustrator and Photoshop; optimise them as suitably compressed JPEG, GIF, or PNG files in Image Ready or Fireworks; and integrate them with text to create linked web pages via HTML and CSS, using Dreamweaver, learn about internet protocols and publish your work on the World Wide Web. In the second term begin to explore the possibilities of extending your skills with animated interactivity using Flash and Director. Gain an introduction to scripting and respond to a multimedia brief by designing and storyboarding an interactive sequence: there will be the possibility of extending this into the realization of a full project, in the third term. Although having your own computer at home is not strictly speaking essential, it would be expected and certainly advantageous.
The course is taught using Apple Mac computers in our brand new digital Darkroom. There are opportunities for open access to the machines at preset times.
You must be equipped with a notebook, sketch pad and writing/drawing materials.
There is disabled access to the classroom.
You are assessed regularly as an ongoing process and will receive regular tutorial support.
There are 12-14 students in a class. Work is essentially individual, but there may be opportunities for collaboration. You will be encouraged and expected to visit, view and research contemporary multimedia materials You will be expected to manage your time efficiently and prepare appropriate work outside of class time. 100% attendance is desirable, but minimal unavoidable absence can be made up with the support of your tutor and materials available directly or through the college website.