Milpitas Unified School District

Calaveras Hills High School (CHHS) students in Ms. Zesati-Quezada’s Introductory Digital Media Class are in the process of producing their own Video Sales Letter (VSL). Students are learning about videography, video editing, and production including 3-point lighting and script writing.

 

“We wanted to create a course that is rigorous and engaging for our students, but also connects to real life and real world skills,” said instructor Teresa Zesati-Quezada, who also teaches Social Sciences, AVID, Economics, and Engineering.

 

“In the first quarter, we really focused on getting the right shots with the lighting and shadows; the correct way to get the audio; and the main goal is we want the students to create a VSL,” added Zesati-Quezada, who was instrumental in the establishing CHHS’ partnership with non-profit Early Morning Late Nights (EMLN).

 

Twice a week, EMLN instructors come to the CHHS campus at the MUSD Innovation Campus and work with the students on their VSL planning and production for what makes CHHS a great school.

 

“We would like them to be self-sufficient, first of all. Anything we do in this class, although we’ve brought in expensive lighting and camera equipment, we are heavily leaning on resources they already have,” said lead instructor Malcolm Halcrombe. “This is a business venture for them as well. The skills that they are developing are making them more valuable in the work field. We really hope that they continue to create and if they love it, that they can also make a living on this.”

 

Senior Gaby Rosas, 17, became interested in influencer marketing on social media platforms like Tik-Tok and Instagram a few years ago, so she was naturally drawn to the digital media class.

 

“It’s really showing us how we can put together our creative ideas and make it into a video about what being on campus is like here at Cal Hills,” shared Rosas, a third year CHHS student. “We capture the moments that we feel make Cal Hills great, and together we come up with how we should edit them into the VSL.”

 

Fellow senior Audrina Rocha, who is the CHHS Student Board Representative on the Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education, added: “I believe social media is in everything; no matter what career you go into, it will have social media as part of it. I definitely plan on using the skills I’m learning here in my future career and applying my knowledge.”

 

Students are learning to use Adobe Premiere software and Canva to produce their videos, with the idea of promoting their school and what it means to be part of the CHHS student body.

 

“I really like what they do over here and what they teach about videography. That’s something that I really want to learn,” said senior Andres Topete, 17. “I can see myself doing it as a career. That’s why it is good to learn all these skills. It will open a lot of doors, a lot of opportunities for us.”

 

There are currently 17 students in Ms. Z’s Introduction to Digital Media Class, but she hopes to grow the enrollment as word begins to spread around campus and around the district.

 

“The goal is to get the kids to see if this is something they are interested in, and eventually it could become a career,” she said. “It is also connecting them with people who they can network with and get internships from later on.”

 

EMLN creator E. Aclan wants to expand the course from introductory basic skills building to intermediate level programming for the students: “Everyone needs a marketing team, and so these are the types of skills that are relatable in any industry. This course helps them to learn how they would sell themselves to a client as a creator themselves.”  MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan stated that this demonstrates MUSD Strategic Commitment #3, building pathways for all and expects that within the next two school years this will become both a dual enrollment college course and a pathway that provides badging and certification for career ready work skills.