Skills Audit
Investigation
Research Methods: I have existing skills within the area of research methods. From previous projects I have been able to gain new skills within the area of different research methods. This includes Primary and Secondary Research; I have learnt how to research into a given subject easily. This includes carrying out secondary research into a subject, I am able to gain the secondary research and annotate then annotate the secondary research.
Primary and Secondary Research: These are the two main research methods in the investigation stage. I do have existing skills in terms of primary and secondary research I would also like to develop my skills further in terms of these two types of research methods.
Primary Research: This is important within the first stage of creating a product. This is how I would gain views and opinions from my target audience about the product and what they expect within a certain product. I have carried out primary research in the past within the investigation stage for projects such as: Magazine Assignment, by asking the target audience what they expect within a magazine aimed at students. Primary research really helps create the product, as it is what the target audience wants. Therefore I do have skills in terms of writing the questionnaires and what questions to include within them. I have then clearly used the primary research to influence and create my product. I also understand that quantitative and qualitative data is the type of data that primary research creates. Quantitative is in forms of facts and figures and qualitative is in the form of detailed opinions. I have gained both forms of data from previous projects. This included carrying out questionnaires and interviews, which both create different research data.
Secondary Research: In terms of secondary research, I have skills within collecting secondary research from different sources. I have used the resources of books and the internet in previous projects. I understand that the sources where I get secondary research from need to be reliable. This is because false information is not good when researching into a given subject. I have been able to use the internet as a source for secondary research, I have used sites which I know are trusted and will give me valid information. I also have skills within using books to help me in the past, books are a more valid and reliable source for secondary information. This is because the book is made for a specific meaning and the information is correct, whereas the internet may not always be correct. I have not used books as much as the internet, but through this year I will be using books a lot more, as they are a reliable source for information.
Pre-Production
Planning and generating ideas are key within the pre-production stage of creating a product. This is because the ideas for the product start to come to life. The planning and generating ideas includes sketches, mind mapping and mood boards. I have skills within these areas as I have carried out these documents in past projects. For example, sketches and mind maps are important because ideas are presented visually and clearly. Therefore I have skills in creating these documents and know how they impact the production of the product.
Production documentation is also important within the pre-production stage; this includes the different documents such as: Treatment, Script and Storyboard. I have skills within this area as I have carried out these different documentations for each project I have completed. I therefore understand how to complete and create the documents for the production to continue. Scheduling is also important within pre-production; this includes the production schedule for the project. These plans out what documents are completed by which date for deadlines to me set and met. I also have skills within scheduling as last year for every project I had a production schedule to keep to for the production to run smoothly.
Production
I believe I have many skills within the production stage of creating a product. In terms of working in groups and allocating roles from the production schedule, I believe I have the skills of doing so. For example, in past projects I have completed the tasks which I have been allocated and the rest of the group does the same. I therefore understand how the schedule and tasks allocation works and have skills in terms of this. In production stage I also have experience in securing resources such as the camera and tripod. I understand how the booking system works; I am able to book equipment out when needed and return it on time. In terms of cameras, I have skills in using the college cameras. I have used the college cameras twice in the first year, for my TV Advert and Programmes. I understand how the cameras work and how to use them correctly.
Post-Production
In terms of sample viewing, I have skills and experience of this type of feedback. I have carried out 2 sample viewings from past projects; I have skills in writing the sample viewing questionnaire and have been taught what questions to include. I do believe I can really improve my sample viewing questionnaires and that within this year I would be able to write a professional sample viewing questionnaire. I would also carry out the sample viewing professionally. By asking participants who don’t know what work I am creating to complete the questionnaire. Another post-production document which I have skills in is the evaluation of my work. I have evaluated all of my products I have created in the first year of this course. I believe I have skills in evaluating my work and I know what I should be evaluating in terms of my product and the process of creating it. The evaluation includes: techniques used, skills and knowledge gained, group work and improvements I could make to the product.
Overall, through this Skills Audit I have explained the skills which I have in the four stages of creating a product. I would like to expand on these skills and learn new skills throughout the second year on this course.
