This is what Skillset states in the introduction of the document. “The following core units are intended to cover the main areas of competence that are at the heart of interactive media.” I have highlighted main because this document acts as a guide which shows people what they should know in order to work in a specific job role within the Interactive Media Community.
About BTEC
BTEC is an academic document that shows someone who wants to learn different aspects of interactive media where to go and what to do to achieve that goal. It is a much more in depth document and generally has six sections on each unit, ranging from, Summary of learning outcomes to Support materials.
The key differences
Skillset is a list of what you need to be able to do in order to work in a specific job role in the interactive media industry.
Example:
IM10 Initiate Interactive Media Projects
Title, Account Manager,
Task, budget and resource requirements
BTEC is a description of the units someone working in the interactive media sector should preferably have knowledge of and the ways in which someone can achieve each unit.
Example:
Unit: Cultural Interpretation
Task: Utilise and manipulate imagery for a communication task
Skillset is written by people in the industry and updated every couple of years.
Example:
Written in 2005, updated 2007.
BTEC has been around for may years and not updated as regularly, so some units are out of touch with the industry.
Example:
Unit: Design a web page imaginatively and creatively using advanced HTML code
Advanced HTML: tables, forms, frames, targets, CGI scripts
Skillset is more straight to the point and easy to scan through to find the information that you are interested in.
BTEC you have to really concentrate on the document and read each section to find what is relevant to you.
Skillset tells you what personal and technical skills you need to have in order to work in the industry.
Example:
IM1 Work Effectively In Interactive Media
How to respond constructively to feedback, whether negative or positive
BTEC is a strict structure that wants you to stick to its guidelines even if some are outdated and not practiced in the industry anymore.
Example:
A section of text after the introduction "Each unit sets out the required outcomes and content and includes advice regarding appropriate delivery and assessment strategies."
Conclusion
In conclusion I think that BTEC is a lot more academic in a way that would help students develop there understanding of what is required of them in order to work in the industry and Skillset is more useful for people who are looking for a job in the industry and want to narrow there job roles down, or see what they must improve on.
Skillset is good for people who already have a little knowledge of the industry because it doesn’t explain what is required in order to meet each goal, where as for a beginner the BTEC document would give someone with little knowledge of the industry a lot more information on what areas they need to learn and develop in order to do well on te course.
I think because Skillset is updated more frequently that it is the document I would prefer to look at more regulary. I think it will come in very useful in the future when it comes to finding the right job for my skills. I think BTEC is more for students to look at and almost record there progress while studying, this will ensure they have the best possible chance of getting the job they want after the course has ended.
2 comments:
You make a good point about BTEC's sylabus being better for someone of little knowledge of the industry. This ould make it easier to digest for students new to a course. I think as we are now nearing the end of the course and looking to find employment or further education most of us are relating better to Skillset, this must be because we are now reaching this level and becoming the target audience of this document.
When you mentioned about being able to find information in the Skillset document you made a great point. I think the way the BTEC document is laid out is terrible in comparison with Skillset. Skillset has all the information on one page making it easier to digest.
I agree with you both about the layout of the two documents. The BTEC document is so large with informtion spread over numerous pages it can make finding information quite difficult. Skillset on the other hand make this much easier by putting everything on the same page in one table.
I also agree with Drew about the target audience of the Skillset document. If I were to have read the document before starting the course I would have been quite confused reading about all the different technologies required. This is much more relevant at this stage of the course however with just over a quarter of the course left.
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