Students watching the new Indiana Jones movie, which premiered this week, could also find themselves studying the film in future Media Studies GCSE assessment, in draft proposals from OCR.

As part of the course, for first teaching in 2009, students will be asked to analyse and respond to a short, previously unseen extract from an action adventure film using key media concepts and techniques to demonstrate their understanding of media products. Students will be assessed under exam conditions, and expected to apply their knowledge of techniques like mise en scene, effects such as those created by the use of soundtrack or editing, and themes and/or roles within the genre. The film extract is selected two years in advance, so students studying the new GCSE Media Studies qualification, taking their exams in 2010 could be studying and be examined on the blockbusters and feature films of today.

OCR's A Level Media Studies has previously used similar films to test students understanding of genre, media language and representation, including Arthur and Superman Returns. Last year there were nearly 60,000 exam entries in A Level Media Studies across all awarding bodies in the UK with 46% choosing OCR's qualification. According to the JCQ 2007 results report , A Level media studies was one of the fastest growing and most popular academic subjects, featuring in the top ten subjects chosen by A Level students.

Parool Patel, former media regulator & BAFTA member and now Head of GCSE Project at OCR said: "UK films make up 8.5% of global cinema takings and provide global career opportunities for media students. Films such as Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull are great examples of the action adventure genre. It's a particularly useful genre to study at GCSE level as students can familiarise themselves with genre conventions, the use and creation of dramatic effects and representation of characters and themes. OCR's updated proposed qualification will also provide students with a sound basis to understand key concepts and understand a broad range of media. It will also encourage creativity and help students understand the role that the media plays in their daily lives."

"The new course will provide a firm basis for students to build on if they choose to progress media studies at A Level, iMedia, the OCR Nationals in Media or the brand new Diploma in Creative and Media which goes live this autumn - all qualifications, designed in providing excellent career prospects."

Ian McNeilly, of the National Association for the Teaching of English, supports the inclusion of action adventure films. In a recent article Mr McNeilly said: "It's easy to denigrate genres that aren't considered academically robust but it has certain characteristics that can be assessed and investigated."