“I believe that education needs to provide more engaging, authentic, and real world opportunities for students. When students have opportunities to show their creativity, technical skills, and express their voice on a real world issue that is when the best learning occurs. Students become so engaged and passionate in projects they forget they are learning and think they are just having fun." explains Michael Peck, PV Teacher & House of BLUE Dept Chair "These mental health focused Audio PSA’s are just one small example of how I do that in my classes. These Audio PSA’s were created by my Intro to Multimedia Freshman students who have never done an audio project in their life. It is always so fun working with students and watch them go from having no technical media skills to producing quality audio, video, photo and film projects in all of my classes.”
You can listen to the PV student's important Mental Health PSA's by locally tuning in 90.1 FM or streaming us live right here at KZFR.org
Pleasant Valley High School House of BLUE Overview - PVHS's House of BLUE program is an award winning Media Arts and Film program in Chico CA. For the past 8 years House of BLUE has grown from a singleton elective Video Production Course into a Four year pathway which includes: Intro to Multimedia, Audio Production, Video Production 1-2-& 3 courses. It is also fully developed and funded Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathway in Arts, Media , & Entertainment (AME). Students who complete this pathway earn their high school credits along with up to 112 units of transferable college credits through the Butte 2+2 program. If approved by CUSD It will contain one of the first dual enrollment courses in the district.
Students in House of BLUE get to experience very real world hand on courses that allow them to showcase their creativity while learning to use industry level software, hardware, and film equipment. Most students who enter this pathway have no prior experience in film, photo, or audio, but year after year come out as some of the top students in the county, state, and even nation. Students collaborate with each other all year on various projects that extend beyond the normal school based curriculum and straight into real world productions. Through developing ideas in pre-production, to in the field and studio shoots, to post production in the computer lab these students do it all. Students get to meet with potential clients discuss project ideas and carry out the entire project though the deadlines which again emulates real world job skills and situations.
The best part is when they get to call the clients back in to the studio to watch the finished project on the new huge 4k TV and watch the smiles, laughter, and sometimes tears of joy as they view their film.
Emphasis on soft skills and how to run a business are critical aspects that students experience in the advanced level classes. Resume and cover letter development, job application and interview techniques and even tie tying lessons are a part of the House of BLUE student experience.
When students leave the program they have a custom made webpage which contains all of their work from the year, a downloadable PDF resume, a film and photo media reel of their best shots (which is required in the industry) and the knowledge and experience of 2 to 3 years of Film, Photo, and audio production.
Many House of BLUE graduates continue to pursue their goals in higher education in film and media related areas at Colleges and Universities around the nation. Several past students now run their own media companies and businesses and continue to be successful in their business and media endeavors.
