Evaluation Question: Challenging Real Media Products

Evaluation Question: Ancillary Texts

Evaluation Question: Audience Research

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

[Before creating the documentary]

The feedback and responses I received from the audience influenced not only what the content would be, but also the crucial decisions for the broadcasting and viewing of the documentary.

I started my research by creating a survey of questions which would be able to provide me with the information needed from the target audience to improve the documentary and the smaller details about it  (such as time viewing and TV channel).

Alot of thinking went into the questions I was asking and made sure that I included the option for a more expressive answer from the audience. The survey was sent to many people that would be the target audience and also to my friends. The blog post I included the survey in - can be found here.

I was pleased with the responses I received because the majority of them were positive and inspiring, the chosen TV channel and time slot for the documentary was influenced by the responses given.
The full audience responses can be found here.

"I personally believe it would be a good idea due to the fact that the technological age is advancing day by day, and it's inevitable that technological and media devices are going to be incorporated to our national curriculum, as they already are so it would be a good idea to see where and how these devices are getting used and allow those members of society who are not involved within the educational environment anymore to gain an insight on the inner-workings of the curriculum."

This response to question three showed the positive interest in the documentary and also that they are aware of the changes to education by the increased new media usage and would be interested in finding out more.

"We are all still learning, so it would be informative and interesting to see how students are taught now using all the new technology and information that is now so widely available."

From the answers given by parents, who were educated in a generation without the access of new media that we have today, I learned that they are interested in extending their knowledge of the new media use in their own children's education. The quote below is from a parent:

"I'm interested particularly in social media, so i would watch it, also to see where my daughter's secondary school curriculum may involve new media."

I also learned that the documentary would appeal more to parents rather than teachers because teachers in this generation already have an understanding of the new media used. But it would still attract those who do not have the oppotunity to have a wider variety of technology available to them.

"Teaching was different when we were at school and it would be interesting to see what new equipment is used in schools these days."

When deciding on the chosen time slot for the documentary, my initial thought was around 5pm, but after recieving the responses from the audience; that time slot wouldn't be a good time to gain viewers in the target audience. A better time slot would be between 7pm and 9pm because the majority of the audience may be quite busy before or after those times.

"To be perfectly honest, it doesn't really matter what time the documentary is aired at due to the technological advance in satellite television with the option to record specific programmes at any given time."

Even though that the time slot does matter, this response is quite right in the fact that satellite TV provides the oppotunity to access a programme at any time after it has been broadcasted. It can also be viewed on the internet or any media device (such as mobile phone or games console) that provides internet access.

As for the TV channel the documentary would be shown on, the majority of responses said that Channel 4 or BBC would be channel they would excpect to see it shown on.
It took a while to decide between the two because they would both be ideal to broadcast the documentary.
It was obvious that it would need to be shown on a terrestrial channel  (between channels 1 and 4) because of the wider audience and greater access.

Video Responses after watching the Documentary

Once the documentary had been completed, i showed it to a few people and asked them to make a video response with their feedback and opinions:

Audience Feedback Survey after producing the Documentary

This is the responses I collected from the survey below, and made them into a slideshow:

When I completed the documentary, I created this survey for my audience to fill out after they had viewed it:

Evaluation Question: Media Technologies

iLearn Documentary

This is the almost completed version of the documentary.
A few glitches were fixed after uploading this version to Youtube: the beginning titles that didn't show up properly and some shakey camera issues during interviews.

Newspaper Advertising Poster

Using both of these images, i created an animated version which could be a possible animated banner for website use:

This is the advertising poster used as one of the ancillary

 texts for the media product:

I also made another version:

Listings Feature

Filming at Sancton Wood

Today we filmed the remaining shots we wanted to get of the pupils at Sancton Wood.
We interviewed them during their ICT class and filmed them using programs and learning websites on their computers. They were working on a slide show presentation of animals while we were there.
I also took photos to be used in the poster and listings feature.

When the class had to leave, we asked their teacher if we could interview her about the ways she uses the new media in her classes.
We will be going back to Sancton Wood on thursday to interview the teachers who introduce the infants to the new media, this should be the last bit of footage we need to get before we can start the editing process.

Child Protection Agreement

In correspondance with the headteacher of Milton Road primary, we agreed that the images and footage taken of the pupils at their school would not be published anywhere but the final product of the documentary.

If this were a real documentary, we would need to stick the arranged agreement that the footage and images does not go anywhere else but the finished product. They would not be used in the listings feature or poster.

We decided that it is best to stay to the agreement - as if it were a real documentary.
So, no images or previews can be shown on here of the pupils of Milton Road.

However, we agreed with Sancton Wood that we could use the images and footage for use in the blog, listings feature and poster - as permission had been obtained from the children's parents.

If an agreement is made with the producers of the documentary that the images and footage would not be used outside of the product; they would have to obey by the agreement.

Another visit to Milton Road

We finally received confirmation from the headteacher at Milton Rd primary - about the permission for us to film the pupils using new media.
Yesterday, we went to the school to film the year 5 class using the computers in the "Micheal Rosen Library" who funded the wide variety of technology and books for the school library.
We filmed the pupils entering the room and starting up their computers. Once they had the computers up and running, they proceeded to use a geography learning game which quizzed them on the cities, countries, rivers and many other georgraphical knowledge across the globe.

We interviewed a few indivuals about what they were working on and other questions we had asked at Sancton Wood.

Before the class had finished, we interviewed their teacher, Miss Watson, about how she teaches her classes using new media.
Also, we filmed her using the smartboard  -  every classroom in the school has one. She told us about how very beneficial they are compared to normal whiteboards and projectors.

When we were about to leave, Miss Watson gave us a copy of the artwork the pupils in year 5 had created using photoshop, for their project they had been working on.

Alot of footage was taken that day and will need editing.

Second filming trip

We went to Sancton Wood again to continue filming the interviews with the year 6 pupils and their teacher.
Unfortunately, the children had to attend a maths test, which meant we didn't get time to film them.
Instead we interviewed their teacher, Mrs Bordoli, who gave us some information about how she uses the computers when she is teaching.

We have organised another visit to continue filming the childrens' interviews and also to interview the infant school teachers - about how they use new media with the little ones.

We also hope to arrange another visit to Milton Road to get some filming done there over the next week.

The Gadget Show

I was browsing Youtube and came across this video from "The Gadget Show", which is an investigation into how to create a virtual self.
This is a good example of the use of new media. 
It's not related to the use of new media in schools and education, but it's a media based video.

The video could not be embedded to my blog, but click this link for the video

Our Experience at the Primary School

Today, we went to the Sancton Wood primary to film our documentary.

We met the head of Year 6, who picked out five pupils from her class that all had permission from their parents to be part of our filming.
Ed, Robin, Amy, Suzannah and Emily were our "ginea pigs" as they named themselves, they were all very friendly and happy to answer our questions.
They are all between the age of 10 and 11.

We had set up the camera and microphone and were ready to film.
We asked the pupils what questions we would be asking in the interview that we were going to film, and what answers they wanted to say - to give them time to prepare.

But when we were filming, the camera battery didn't last long, and we couldn't get any more footage from it. We didn't have a digital camera with us, apart from phone cameras.
So instead, we continued to make notes on the answers the children gave us about new media.
All of them have their own computers and laptops at home, a few had mobile phones and cameras of their own.
The boys told us they like to use their mobile phones for texting, and the rest keep in touch with their friends and family, and only use them for emergencies.

Some started using computers when they were around the age of 3,  and had their own at around the age of 6.

They play a maths game that quizzes them on sums, and occasionally play a game that helps them with their french vocabulary.
One game in particular that a few of them play is called "Mathletics" which they use in school and at home.
They said it was "cool and fun" and "helps us remember our sums".
Ed said that in his previous primary school, they had encouraged them to play a game called "Numbershark" which quizzed them on times tables.
A few of them had also played another game at their previous schools, which had been encouraged them to play at school and at home, called "World Maths Day" which enables the children to challenge others online with a wide range of maths questions. They all said they enjoyed playing that very much because they could play against anyone over the globe.
They said they like using the computers at school for learning, as they are not allowed to use them for games, but use them for personal use rather than to study, although they do sometimes search the internet for research.

They told us they use BBC iPlayer to catch up on shows that they have missed on CBBC, but Emily said she likes watching nature programmes and documentaries.
Recently in their geography class, they watched a documentary from BBC's Human Planet.
Amy said she has a digital camera which she uses to take general photos and films of her friends and family, she uploads them to her pc and shares them on facebook.

They all said they use skype, to talk to their friends and family and talk over their webcams. Emily said she uses her webcam to talk to her family in Australia.

There were not any Smartboards in the school, but the children had used them at previous schools and really enjoyed the experience - they all wished that Sancton Wood had the smartboards too as they are very beneficial for their learning.

They use the computers and netbooks in their ICT classes, when we went to the ICT room, there were a large number of computers with the website "Kid Zone" which had various different learning applications on it. Amy told us that they sometimes use it, but it's mainly for the younger classes such as Year 4.

We wondered if we could get them to film a video on their netbooks, but the webcams on them could only take photos.

Amy told us that her brother brings his laptop to school because he has Dyslexia and uses his laptop to help him with his writing.
Ed said that he attends a "Media Club" at school, which introduces the children to Media classes and the various basics in Media. He said that he would like to study media in secondary school.


As it was time for the children to go back to their classes, we said our goodbyes and they asked us if we could come back and talk to them again soon.
We spoke to their head of year again, explaining that we needed to come back sometime in the week to finish the filming (better equipt)
We were very grateful when she said we could come back on Thursday to complete the filming, but we would not have as much time with them as they would have to get back to their classes because they were very busy this week.

When we go back on Thursday, we will make sure we have all the questions ready that we didn't ask, the camera fully ready to film, a camera for photos and possibly ask their teacher for a quick interview too.

But we did manage to get a few photos with our phones.

The children working on their netbooks in the ICT class.

The computers in their ICT room

The "Kids Zone" website

A display of work on the wall, of work that pupils from the school had designed.

Production Plan for Filming

After recieving permission to go to Sancton Wood primary school to film, hopefully, we will get the main footage for the documentary.

Click Here for the earlier post: the plan for footage / access that we are going to get

Tomorrow - we will be taking the camera, microphone and tripod to the primary school, along with a list of questions / surveys that will use in the interviews.

It would be even more ideal if we could also get footage from Milton Road, then we would have 2 different primary schools featured in the documentary,  but at least we have one good option with the potential for the footage.

Production Diary - March

On Thursday 3rd March, we went to Sancton Wood primary school to ask their permission to film the footage for our documentary at their school.
The art teacher, Darin, was very interested in our project and promised he would put our request forward to the headteacher.

In their art classroom, we saw an iMac which is used for film making and animation - this is only used with the older students.

Darin also suggested to look at the launch of the new iPad2, as it will be good for learning and education:
    ---Apple iPad 2 Launch


[Update] We now have the go ahead from their headteacher and hope to film sometime next week

Bolton Bloggers

This is blogging about blogging!

On the 14th February, a primary school in Manchester were featured on the BBC Breakfast show with a report of their pupils blogging their education.

The children are encouraged to blog about their work, interests and activities - which improves their writing skills. The blogging also invites feedback from other teachers and students from other schools across the country and globe. This greatly benefits the children as they feel inspired by the feedback they receive from others in the 'blogworld'.

The Breakfast program is usually watched by many as the early hours appeal to early workers, parents and teachers.

BBC News on the "Bolton Bloggers"

Children's response on new media

On Friday 11th February, we went to visit Milton Road primary school - where we could be filming some footage for the documentary.
We asked a number of questions to 4 children that on the next visit to the primary school, we will interview them for the documentary.
Charlie, Clara, Rachel and Archie are all between the ages of 9 and 10.

All of them except Clara have computers / laptops at home and everyone in Charlie's household have a laptop of their own.

Clara and Charlie both have mobile phones which only allow them to call or find their parents.

They were all introduced to new media at the ages of 4, in reception class at school.

They use the computers for their literacy and maths work, where there are educational games for the different stages of learning.

They all enjoy playing these educational games, especially one called  "Cool maths quiz"

They use the laptops / computers at home for personal use:  email, social messaging and games.
On average for 30mins every day or every other day, after they have done their homework.

All classrooms in their primary have 'smartboards'  which are the new generation of white boards.
These are very beneficial for their learning and all the children agree it is very helpful for them.

Their computers at school only let them access the things they are allowed to use in school.

On our way out of the primary school, there was a room like a library with lots of children using laptops and headphones. This would be good footage to put into the documentary.

Updated version of Poster

I added 'media' into the slogan, changed the words around for a better meaning and gave the font a glow to attract attention / make it stand out more.
Also, adding the time  and changing the style of the laptop to look like it has been drawn/sketched:

First Draft of Poster

Using photoshop, i made a first draft design of the advertising poster for our documentary:

The girl in the photo is my 10year old niece.

Listings feature

iLearn is a new documentary series about how young learners are using new media in a positive way.
Most media coverage of childrens relationship with media suggests that it's either dangerous or a waste of time.

Panorama's recent investigation (12th Dec 2010) suggested games were addictive.
iLearn will explore children's interaction with new media and its benefits. Most parents have limited knowledge what's going on in a childrens classroom, why would they be better informed about media in the classroom.

Are new media just extentions of traditional education tools? Do they help children to be creative, to develop relationships, to learn how to behave appropriatly? We will be hearing from the kids themselves of what they make of their media world and how it helps them to help themselves grow.

The four part series starts on Thursday, with the first installment of iLearners, from Milton Road primary school in Cambridge.

"We want to show how useful new media in education is and to reassure parents that it gives a positive outcome for their lives" say the documentary filmakers, who have worked in education themselves.

Design for Magazine

This is a basic design for how the listings magazine feature will look like:

Listings Magazine

The responses from the audience about the documentary has influenced the decision to target a more general audience rather than children. Adults, especially parents / teachers will be the chosen target audience, hopefully including young adults to appeal to the documentart too.

As we are no longer choosing a younger audience, the feature for the documentary will appear in an adult listings magazine - one of the BBC's productions magazines.

The most obvious choice is Radio Times, as it is specifically for tv listings.
It could also feature in a more educational magazine, therefore only targetting teachers.

Words for the feature

Brainstorm of sentence ideas:

- Most focus on the negatives about new media in schools, but this new 4 part series shows us the benefits and positive outcomes of the new generation of education

- Education and media are always moving
  new discoveries, syllabuses, information, guidelines  / rules
  media changes day by day

- But the basic principals are always the same in both media and education

- How media has improved the quality of learning with the new generation

- The children get the knowledge and experience with the technology of the new generation, that their parents would not have had the opportunity to

- Interactive and electronical learning  (i's and e's)

New generation - new opportunities
New media
New way of learning

* ~ * ~ *

This new series suggests basic principals remain the same as resources change so do the opportunities and methods.

Gives parents the opportunity to experience how the new generation is learning with new methods to the same basic goals.

Audience Response

After collecting the feedback from the survey, I made a series of charts to show the results:

Question 3:

1.	I personally believe it would be a good idea due to the fact that the technological age is advancing day by day, and it's inevitable that technological and media devices are going to be incorporated to our national curriculum, as they already are so it would be a good idea to see where and how these devices are getting used and allow those members of society who are not involved within the educational environment anymore to gain an insight on the inner-workings of the curriculum.
2.	I think it would useful, as it is always good to be considerate on the future of education, as everyone learns differently, using media could be a good opportunity to explore the potential effects of new media in education, which to me would be quite interesting, as to see if there are also any techniques I could use to learn from.
3.	To give parents and the general population an insight into how technology can be used to help educate their children. (and some teachers too!)
4.	a positive documentary about the opportunities rather than the' dangers' of new media is avery good idea
5.	It will let people know how information can be presented in many different ways.
6.	Good educational video for parents and teachers. Shows that technology can be helpful too, not just hurtful.
7.	think it's been done before but maybe about individual innovations . a programme giving overview of several innovations and their uses in schools could be interesting
8.	Because the situation is changing rapidly and everyone needs to think about the implications.
9.	Because of the general increase of use of new media in education, a documentary detailing the advances and differing usage seems like a good idea.
10.	It enables all children access to 'new' media who otherwise might not have the means to use it/them.
11.	Perhaps it will rectify any misconceptions?
12.	It might be very boring and cliched. I work in IT and most documentaries by academics really have no idea about technology. Often the ideas of interactive and self paced learning are things that traditional educational providers don't really understand.
13.	It is very current
14.	nothing wrong with being informed and also learning about new things. When you are informed about something then you can make a point of view about it
15.	It will help students learn.
16.	I can see reasons why it would be a good idea i.e - to inform parents as to how new media is educating thier children But in my opinion I doubt that it would get high viewing figures even if shown during peak hours.
17.	Help parents learn
18.	It will help parents have a better understanding of their children's studies
19.	always good to know more about new media
20.	Such a program would likely be interesting to parents in general as it would make them a little more aware of the methods being used to educate their children, it might also interest some students to learn more about potential learning methods.
21.	would be interesting to see extent and scope
22.	It would be educational

Question 4:

1.	To be perfectly honest, it doesn't really matter what time the documentary is aired at due to the technological advance in satellite television with the option to record specific programmes at any given time.
2.	It is hard to say, when the best time to air such a thing would be, this depends on the audience, for me personally at 5pm/5.30pm I tend to be doing other things.
3.	Depending on the intended audience, this may prove to be a good or bad idea. Most student shouldn't be bussy at the said time, but if the broader, working class was to be reached, the standart time of 7pm/8pm would most likely be more applicable.
4.	Too early for people coming home from work
5.	not necessarily a good adult slot but could catch a broad parent/offspring audience
6.	Most of the target audience will not be home during that time. Best to have it later in the evening after dinner, as it may attract the attention of more professionals, busy parents and children.
7.	Mothers, some fathers and students are often watching TV whilst dinner is either being prepared or eaten around that time and before people go out to evening classes or do other evening activities.
8.	5/5:30 pm tends to be the time when people are just getting off or on to work.
9.	should be aimed more at parents and teachers so later better.
10.	Not many people are home and free to watch TV then. It would be better at a later time.
11.	Professionals do not get home until 6.00/6.30
12.	not TV viewing time for most except very young kids
13.	Will capture school children.
14.	Too early for people who work. Only good for school kids!
15.	too early, many people still at work
16.	It would have high viewing figures.
17.	too early
18.	It is a prime time for students to view it.
19.	This is the time when most teens/children are getting home and watching TV, before thier parents get home, therefore I doubt they would be interested in watching how new media is used in education, since they are in education themselves. and could cause problems for schools as other institutions will have better education facilities
20.	If aimed at parents, needs a later time
21.	Coming home from work time/ preparing supper etc.
22.	Most people returning from work
23.	The show should be a little later as most adults are only finishing work at 5pm.
24.	Because people aren't usually busy at that time
25.	people would see it

Question 5:

1.	This should be aired on terrestrial television channels such as the BBC Network, ITV Network due to reaching a wider audience.
2.	Channel 4 or BBC 4 Channel 4 are known for doing Documentaries (usually around 9) and BBC 4 is a channel dedicated to factual programs, including documentaries.
3.	BBC1 or 2 for max access
4.	Channel 4 perhaps, but I would more likely expect to see the documentary on the internet.
5.	BBC 2, public service remit, timing
6.	BBC (Government run, educational programming), PBS (USA), Channel 4 (some documentaries?)
7.	Channel 4 is aimed at younger people and is more cutting edge. As well as being one of the main terrestrial channels it also would be repeated on Channel 4+1, so more chance of getting a wider audience.
8.	Honestly I have no idea, discovery channel? Local station?
9.	BBC2
10.	Channel 4 - good rep for documentaries.
11.	BBC2 or Channel 4
12.	Unknown
13.	Channel 4 possibly as they always have documentaries.
14.	Channel 4 or 5 Not a mainstream interest item.
15.	Public tv stations, perhaps documentary cables.
16.	bbc1 - has the most integrity of the channels.
17.	BBC because they do a lot of doco's
18.	Any channel targeting Students of the proposed age group.
19.	BBC Teacher's TV
20.	BBC?
21.	BBC2
22.	bbc
23.	1-4
24.	Channel 4 usually presents these kind of documentary.
25.	Channel 5 because they normally do documentarys on that channel
26.	bbc 2
27.	BBC - educational

Question 6:

1.	It would more than likely appeal to teachers more than children because it gives a demonstration on how other schools and educational facilities are incorporating technology into specific studies and courses. This would also allow other schools to invest and replicate methodologies of teaching and use them in their own schools and facilities.
2.	yes it would be a opener for more discussion
3.	My daughter who is 10, is already using new media in project research and presentation. Children and teachers would relate to it.
4.	Children: See whether what they are getting matches up with what's available. Teachers: See what is possible - get new ideas or positive feedback on what we are already doing
5.	I believe it would fascinating for teachers as it is their work area, and they watch it see if there is anything they can draw from it. Students may not be so keen on watching it, it depends on their own personal motives.
7.	It would give the teachers ideas about how many different ways information can be presented to make it more interesting to students and it would help students understand that information is available to them in many different formats.
8.	I think teacher definatly will, might give them some insight on how they can use technology. As far as students go... it could go ethier away.
9.	tv companies frequently hype up their subjects to boost audience numbers. better would be a balanced view, giving merits and drawbacks of the new media types.
10.	Maybe not children.
11.	Both have a vested interest in how to improve educational
13.	Covers a topic that is close to home.
14.	Maybe they will get ideas of how other people are using media?
15.	It depends on the actual relevance. It also depends on whether is has actual applications for teachers and students or if it just another "in the future robots will solve all our problems" type documentary
18.	It depends on their personal tastes.
19.	If hosted in the correct way, then children would be interested in seeing how some schools are more advanced than others. And teachers likewise.
20.	Some may wish to see this documentary to expand their knowledge, which of course depends greatly on th content and the style of it, but a large percentage I would expect to not give it a chance as the documentary is practically talking about their daily lives.
21.	I don´t think children would be interested in such studies at that age but depending on the teacher, they could find it interesting,
22.	depends on content
23.	Teachers more-so than children, although some older children might be interested.
24.	Not sure one documentary would be able to 'reach' adults and children

Question 7:

1.	Most parents could find it beneficial to see a documentary of this kind to further familiarize themselves with the daily school lives of the children. My parents aren't in this country, so no to the second one.
2.	Their children are learning things they didn’t have the opportunity to, so parents would most likely want to see the information about it
3.	depends on the parents interest of their children scholastic life's.
4.	I think it all depends on the taste that people have, some people might find it interesting other people might not.
5.	Why not if its suitable
6.	My parents would be interested in the myriad of potential new learning resources. I would not be interested.

Question 8:

1.	Definitely, as it would talk about the effects of new media in education which is fascinating, it could help potentially change the way education is conducted.
2.	because technology is advancing at a tremendous pace and there are new things daily.
3.	Will focus on what is needed in schools that isn't there currently.
4.	Teaching was different when we were at school and it would be interesting to see what new equipment is used in schools these days.
5.	It will present aspects of new media in use, that people wouldnt have thought of.
6.	Any new information is educational.
7.	Why not? In definition everything that gives information to the audience is educational, including cartoons.
9.	Interesting but not essential knowledge.
13.	It's supposed to be Educational.
14.	I hate to be pedantic, but isn't that the point of a documentary? To educate.
15.	it should be , in the broadest sense
16.	depends on content

Question 9:

1.	We are all still learning, so it would be informative and interesting to see how students are taught now using all the new technology and information that is now so widely available.
2.	It would be a good eye opener on how technology affects education
3.	I'm interested particularly in social media, so would watch it, also to see where my daughter's secondary school curriculum may involve new media.
4.	well... I rarely watch TV and when i do its for entertainment, for me a documentary has to have a layout where they cover many topics under one roof in short scenes. Much like most science programs take 10 mins at a time to show each experiment and how it works.
5.	Provides insight into modernisation of education
6.	Will enable me to understand what is currently available in the curriculum and what needs to be addressed.
7.	I would decide on whether to watch this or not on the basis on how it would be advertised. It would need to have a good title and a catchy add.
8.	That depends on whether or not as a whole it is assembled in an interesting manner, I would love to be able to take something I didn't know away from it, experimental education sounds very interesting.
10.	Just from a gadget lovers perspective only. Otherwise not interested in this subject.
11.	because it is a topic that I have had past involvement in. I like the subject.
13.	because I am rubbish at technology...
14.	I don't study Media but I do have an interest in it.
15.	perhaps I should, but it doesn't grab me
17.	don't have much else to do!
18.	Media is interesting