Creative Digital Media: Skills for Work National 4

What is special about this course?

The digital media and creative industries sector includes industries such as advertising, music, TV and radio, multimedia, computer software development, printing and publishing. It employs over 60,000 people in Scotland.

This course will help you to think creatively, work under pressure, use new technologies and communicate with others. You will learn about how digital media assets are used in television, radio, publishing and games.  Throughout the course you will be creating and capturing audio such as making backing tracks, recording sound effects, using photo manipulation software to create stunning visuals, animation software and learn how to pitch it all to prospective clients.

Entry requirements

You don't need passes in specific subjects to join this course, but you need a positive attitude and you should be willing to learn new skills, and undertake a successful interview.

This course is at level SCQF 4 and consists of 4 mandatory units:

  • Creative Digital Media: Introduction to the Industry
  • Creative Digital Media: The Creative Process
  • Creative Digital Media: Hardware and Software
  • Creative Digital Media: Production Project

The course has been designed to provide an introduction to the digital media industry and its sectors, which are varied and include radio, television/DVD, digital/computer games and software, publishing and web sites as well as other sectors and may increase in the light of emerging technology.

You will gain an overview and an awareness of the sectors and the skills required and used in them, including the development and production process. It reflects the initial skills required for the digital media industry. The course will enable students to develop general and practical skills, knowledge and understanding, together with employability skills and attitudes needed to work in the digital media industry.

Creative Digital Media: Introduction to the Industry

This unit provides an introduction to the digital media industry across a range of sectors which include radio, television/DVD, digital/computer games and software, publishing and websites as well as other sectors which may increase in the light of emerging technology. The unit will provide an overview and an awareness of the sectors, what skills are required across a range of jobs and how these are used within each sector; all of which will assist candidates in matching their skills and attributes to the jobs available in the industry.

You will participate in various practical activities including gathering industry and career information, investigating development and production processes, matching their career interests to job requirements and evaluating their personal employability skills for the digital media industry.

Creative Digital Media: The Creative Process

In this unit you will consider the basics of the creative process based on a given project brief, the job roles involved and the contribution of each role during the development and production process.

You will learn about the creative process from the initiation of a brief, through the planning and development process to the final production and presentation of a creative solution to the brief. This will involve students in activities such as interpretation of the brief, research, developing a personal response and participating fully in the development of a team response to the brief.

You will be encouraged to explore different solutions to a given brief and will contribute to a team presentation of the solution. They will also review the team response to the brief.

Creative Digital Media: Hardware and Software

Hardware and software are the tools of the trade in the digital media industry. They assist at almost every stage of the production process. In this unit you'll learn about the identification, selection and use of appropriate hardware and software, the creation and capture of content, the editing and manipulation of created and captured content. You will also learn to ensure content is stored appropriately.

Creative Digital Media: Production Project

This unit provides you with opportunities to work individually and as part of a team in all aspects of the practical development and production of two digital media products.  Starting with the development of a project brief, the team will identify two digital media products to satisfy the requirements of the brief and will then move on to the planning phase before undertaking the production of two digital media products.

How will I study my course?

  • Part Time

The course is classroom based, but there will be opportunities to make visits to appropriate organisations that have digital media functions.  You will also receive talks from visiting speakers who have a background in a creative digital media environment.  These will contribute to your knowledge and understanding of how the skills you learn will contribute to the workplace.  Project work in teams is a key aspect of the course, and this will provide opportunities for you to develop your employability skills.

How long will my course last?

1 academic year

Where can I study my course?

Start date

In most schools this course will begin in June.

Fees

For the latest information on fees please see our fees policy.

What can I do on completion of my course?

You may wish to progress to NC Digital Media Computing level 5, which is a full-time course.

Is there more information available online?

QR Code - scan to visit course page

You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.

This course is part of our schools-link senior phase programme and is embedded in your option choices at school. If this course is offered by your school speak to your Guidance Teacher and request an application form.

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at UHI Argyll. UHI Argyll operates a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion and/or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.