WOODBURY — Nonnewaug offers a wide array of clubs and activities that align with student interests, though for new NHS video instructor, Katie Blake, she noticed something was missing.
“I feel like with the Video Game Club, with the way that e-sports in gaming is trending, that this can be a great opportunity for students to be able to connect with other students,” Blake said. “They also have scholarship opportunities and are able to put that on their resumes and applications for college and universities. It’s a great place for students to come together and enjoy games that they may play on their own at home, but now we’ll play together as a group.”
Blake hopes that these clubs will connect with students who have an interest in designing their own video games and sharing a love for digital media.
Jack Braddock, a current NHS sophomore, is part of the Video Game Club and has been eager to take advantage of something that appeals to his passion for digital communication.
“I am interested in video games and there’s great people interested in video games in this school,” says Braddock. “It also raises awareness for video games and the club, and it is a great social activity.”
Following NHS’ building remodel, Blake’s video lab now offers students the opportunity to explore 21st century skills relating to the gaming industry. The space includes modern Mac computers that offer game design software, a green screen for in-class broadcasts, and video equipment that allows students to create professional-level productions.
“With Media Club, we will actually be focusing a lot on producing content that may be submitted for awards with FOX 61 Student News,” Blake said.
This is a club for anyone. It doesn’t just have to be kids that are interested in video games or the media world in this club, it can be kids who are just wanting to try something new or want to join because a friend is joining or just wanting to do something after school.
“I will use that time as an open studio so if students have projects for school or things that they want to work on independently,” Blake said. “It will be an open studio space with myself there to assist them with whatever they need, which I think is a great way for students to be able to come in [with] no grades or strings attached and be able to experiment and see what they can produce.”
These clubs don’t just offer fun times after school, they also offer kids opportunities for the future like connections to colleges. Additionally, there are real world opportunities like working with Fox 61 Student News and countless collaborations, Blake’s Media Club is providing students experience with working with the equipment and designing their own projects.
“With video game design I feel like this is a great opportunity for us to practice this year with playing games,” Blake said.
Blake understands that clubs like hers are important in the digital media era.
“They’re extremely important just because this is the direction that we’re going,” Blake said. “There’s only going to be more and more technology involved in our worlds.”
Nonnewaug’s courses and clubs have many goals, yet one key component is especially important to Blake: preparing students for 21st century skills.
“There’s going to be more and more technology driven careers so having a strong skill set and knowledge of gaming engines and editing software is super beneficial for the students but also understanding that it will always be changing,” Blake said.
Blake’s hope is that students not only develop modern skills through her club, but she also wants club members to develop the resourcefulness that’s critical to modern technology careers.
“This industry will be changing; as soon as you learn a skill, there’ll be new updates and new things that will be added,” Blake said. “Really understanding that you have to be resourceful and seek out whenever you need to be able to troubleshoot something, it’s a great life skill.”
For NHS students, Blake’s new clubs give students an enjoyable outlet after school that’s also preparing them for a life in technology.
“I enjoy the club because of the people there. They’re all really nice,” said Braddock. “There is also a wide variety of stuff to do since there are different systems [for students to practice with].”
