Media Studies and the Curriculum

Abstract

Media Studies is a popular and vital new addition to the educational curriculum. The term “Media Studies” denotes a “stand-alone” subject that is taught in its own right. The difficulty is to know whether the material which it embraces should be taught in this way or whether it should find a place within the rubric of another field – English, or possibly Technology or Art. “Media Education” is a term used to describe the teaching of media components or modules within existing subject areas. Another problem relates to the methods required for evaluation. Neither internal assessment of the Sixth Form Certificate, nor the use of the New Zealand Qualification Authority’s unit standards will carry the prestige of external examinations such as University Bursary. This impacts on the academic level of students electing to study the subject and the way in which the curriculum must be constructed.