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THE MEDIA TOOLKIT: Understanding and Explaining Media Through Creative Production
YEAR 10 UNIT GUIDE AND LESSON PLANS
You will learn how media texts are constructed using codes, conventions, and production choices that are designed to influence specific audiences. You will examine how meaning is made through sound, image, editing, and structure, and reflect on how different perspectives are included, or excluded, in media messages. Throughout the unit, you will be encouraged to ask critical questions, challenge assumptions, and reflect on your own experiences as both an audience member and a creator.
By the end of the unit, you will have built a resource that helps others learn while demonstrating your own mastery of media literacy. This project will not only prepare you for future media studies but will also strengthen your ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and create media with purpose.
This term, you’re not just learning about media, you’re making it.
You’ll investigate how media shapes our world, then create your own Media Toolkit; a resource to help other students understand what media is and why it matters. You choose how it looks, be that a podcast, infographic, zine, video, stop motion, slideshow, it’s up to you.
Think of it as designing the guide you wish you had when first starting Media.
Your task is to design and produce a Media Toolkit, a creative, student-friendly resource that explains key media concepts to an audience of your choice. You will decide on the format, whether it’s a podcast, infographic, video essay, stop motion, or digital magazine, and you will tailor your work to reflect your strengths, interests, and media style. The toolkit will demonstrate your understanding of media concepts such as representation, narrative, audience, and media language.
As you develop your toolkit, you will be guided through a creative process that includes analysis, planning, production, and reflection. You will be supported in refining your ideas through feedback, class critique, and self-assessment. The goal is to produce something that is both intellectually rigorous and creatively engaging, something you would have found useful when first trying to understand what media really is.
This term, you’re not just learning about media, you’re making it.
You’ll investigate how media shapes our world, then create your own Media Toolkit; a resource to help other students understand what media is and why it matters. You choose how it looks, be that a podcast, infographic, zine, video, stop motion, slideshow, it’s up to you.
Think of it as designing the guide you wish you had when first starting Media.
You will learn how media texts are constructed using codes, conventions, and production choices that are designed to influence specific audiences. You will examine how meaning is made through sound, image, editing, and structure, and reflect on how different perspectives are included, or excluded, in media messages. Throughout the unit, you will be encouraged to ask critical questions, challenge assumptions, and reflect on your own experiences as both an audience member and a creator.
Your task is to design and produce a Media Toolkit, a creative, student-friendly resource that explains key media concepts to an audience of your choice. You will decide on the format, whether it’s a podcast, infographic, video essay, stop motion, or digital magazine, and you will tailor your work to reflect your strengths, interests, and media style. The toolkit will demonstrate your understanding of media concepts such as representation, narrative, audience, and media language.
As you develop your toolkit, you will be guided through a creative process that includes analysis, planning, production, and reflection. You will be supported in refining your ideas through feedback, class critique, and self-assessment. The goal is to produce something that is both intellectually rigorous and creatively engaging, something you would have found useful when first trying to understand what media really is.
By the end of the unit, you will have built a resource that helps others learn while demonstrating your own mastery of media literacy. This project will not only prepare you for future media studies but will also strengthen your ability to think critically, communicate clearly, and create media with purpose.
LESSON 1 - Introduction to Media and Its Power
Learning Intention
Today you’ll explore what media is and how it influences how we see the world. You’ll begin to understand the power of media to shape opinions, tell stories, and reflect or challenge real-life issues.
Success Criteria
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to define media, describe key features like codes and conventions, and reflect on how media messages are constructed and interpreted.
Starter
Watch the video "What is Media?" by Behind the News. Then discuss:
What does media include?
What media do you consume the most?
How do media creators influence what we see or believe?
Teach
We’ll break down what media is and how it works. You’ll learn how different media forms, like film, podcasts, ads, and social media, use codes (like camera angles or sound) and conventions (like story structure or format) to shape meaning. You’ll explore how every media text is made with a purpose and an audience in mind. We’ll also discuss how representation and bias affect how people and issues are shown in the media. Use your guided worksheet to record key terms and examples as we go.
Activity
In pairs, become media detectives. Choose a short media clip (e.g., an ad, podcast snippet, or video reel). Complete your worksheet by answering: What is the media form? Who is the target audience? What codes and conventions are used? What message is being communicated? How is the audience positioned to think or feel? Use sketches, keywords, and colour to visualise your ideas.
Recap
Share your analysis with the class. What surprised you about how media works? What techniques stood out? Can you think of a media text you once believed, but now view differently?
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LESSON 2 - Analysing Media Texts
LESSON 3 - Excursion – Observing Media at Channel 9
Learning Intention
Today you’ll experience how media is created in a real-world studio setting. You’ll learn what goes on behind the scenes and how creative decisions, tools, and teamwork shape the media we see every day.
Success Criteria
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to describe different roles and technologies involved in media production, explain how choices are made to target audiences, and reflect on what this experience means for your own media project.
Starter
Before the excursion begins, we’ll talk about what to look out for. What do you already know about how media is made? What are you curious to learn? Think about the stages of production, planning, creating, and editing, and what you expect to see in a live studio. You’ll receive a reflection journal to jot down notes and ideas during the visit.
Teach
As we tour the studio, you’ll observe the different parts of media production in action. Look closely at the people, roles, and equipment that bring stories to life, presenters, camera operators, producers, editors, lighting and sound techs. Pay attention to how each person contributes, how they communicate, and what technology they use. Think about how tone, structure, and timing are planned and rehearsed before anything goes to air. Ask questions when appropriate, and start thinking about how this connects to your Media Toolkit project.
Activity
While on the tour, complete your excursion reflection journal. Use it to document what you see, hear, and notice. After the excursion, use your notes to write a short reflection. What surprised you about the media production process? Which role interested you the most? How did the team collaborate? What ideas could you use in your own media work? Optional: sketch a “media studio of the future” based on what you saw and how media might evolve.
Recap
Back in class, we’ll share some of our highlights. What stood out the most? Did anything challenge what you thought media work was like? As a group, we’ll discuss how this experience might help you when planning and creating your own Media Toolkit. Think about the audience, the tools you might use, and how every decision shapes the message.
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LESSON 4 - Planning the Toolkit
Learning Intention
Today you’ll use what you learned during the excursion to define your own design problem. You’ll create a design brief that outlines what you’re trying to solve, who it’s for, and why it matters.
Success Criteria
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to write a clear and thoughtful design brief that includes a problem, purpose, audience, and sustainability considerations. You’ll also be able to explain how your excursion experience inspired your idea.
Starter
Look back over your excursion notes, sketches, and photos. Choose one product, business, or idea that stood out to you and answer: What made this example ethical, sustainable, or human-centred? How did it influence your thinking?
Teach
You’ll learn the structure of a strong design brief. This includes your design problem, target audience, purpose, sustainability goals, constraints, and sources of inspiration. We’ll model how to turn your notes and reflections into a clear design challenge, and brainstorm product types such as reusable cups, carry containers, or modular objects. We’ll also look at real design projects that put sustainability and innovation first to help inspire your thinking.
Activity
Start filling in your DESIGN BRIEF worksheet. Think carefully about the issue you want to explore. Define the audience: who are you helping, and what do they need? What are the limitations, time, materials, ethics, or environmental concerns? Include inspiration from the Purpose Precinct and explain how it connects to your idea.
Recap
Share part of your brief with a partner or small group. Give and receive feedback: Is the problem clear? Is the audience well defined? What sustainability or ethical elements could be made stronger?
Exit Slip: Finish the sentence “My design is trying to help [audience] by solving [problem] in a way that is [sustainable/ethical/innovative].”
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LESSON 5-8 - Media Language and Ethical Representation - Production Time – Creating the Toolkit - Refinement and Peer Critique - Presentation and Reflection
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