Teenagers to podcast and blog their way to A-level

London: Teenagers will be able to use iPods to submit their coursework for a new A-level in media studies, an exam board announced.

The course, to be taught from September, has been revised to give students a wider range of skills for the 21st century, the OCR examination board said. Coursework can be presented using blogs, websites, podcasts or DVDs. Students will be able to work on projects such as a promotional package for an album, the creation of a new computer game or a short film or animation.

Paul Dodd, from OCR, said: "Our new media studies A-level reflects significant media developments in recent years and gives students the opportunity to use modern channels of communication such as websites, blogs and MP3 players to present their work."

He said there had been growing demand for "a more modern and exciting qualification". "This revised A-level has also been designed to appeal to the growing number of specialist media studies teachers employed by schools as a result of the subject's popularity," he said.

Media studies has been one of the fastest growing A-level courses in recent years. Last year more than 27,000 students took the OCR exams. Critics of media studies, which has also increased in popularity at university level, claim the subject is a soft option. But supporters argue that many students go on to find good jobs.