MEDIAONICS FANTASIA
Mediaonics Fantasia is a series of events that spring out of the Mediaonics development.
Mediaonics (media + sonics) is the name of a new course that has been devised and designed by Brian Lammas and Angela Insull, the art and music teachers at Leasowes Community College in Dudley, West Midlands. They were keen to reinvent the creative curriculum for the 21st century.
Initially aimed at Key Stage 4 students, the course fuses art, music and digital technology into an engaging programme of study and practical skill building. An extension called Mediaonics+ is being developed at Halesowen College as a way for students to develop their skills further.
A core principle behind Mediaonics is that young people should have opportunities to fully exploit new media - both because it is a vital part of contemporary living and because their career prospects require them to have a proficiency in digital technology.
A second principle is the close collaboration of Industrial Partners. Representatives of the creative industries, especially new media, are key players in the design and delivery of the course. This keeps it up-to-date and relevant to the needs of potential employers. Students also benefit from a close working relationship with practicing arts and media workers and have opportunities for substantial work placements.
A personal statement by Brian Lammas on The Origins and Meaning of Mediaonics describes how the course is designed to be flexible and how the concept can be used across the curriculum, not only in the arts.
