Connecting Beyond the Screen: A Valley Guardians Event
By: Hailey Wesloski
The next generation of students have a harder time keeping their focus when the world around them is moving fast. Our fast paced world can make things complicated for them but there are techniques to help learn as well! Utilizing technology is an essential piece of connecting with students, especially movies, and videos. Watching movies is shown to slow down your brain and allow it to destress and relax while keeping your focus honed in (Earth.com). Students are able to really focus on what they are watching and understand the lessons being given. Movies are a great way to learn different morals, ideas, and concepts while staying engaged and focused.
In the past, older generations often viewed movies and videos with skepticism, believing they were merely entertainment and not conducive to learning. There was a strong preference for traditional, in-person education. However, recent research suggests that these views may not hold true. Studies show that technology and videos can actually enhance learning and accelerate student progress. The future of education is increasingly centered around leveraging technology to access insights from professionals and experts worldwide.
On March 30th The Valley Guardians Executive Leadership scholars set aside time to test this technique firsthand!. There were 43 students who attended the event where they played games and learned acting skills before going to watch the new Kung Fu Panda Movie. In the movie, students were immersed into the teachings of renegotiating relationship expectations, defining new life goals and responsibilities and finding inner peace in a world that seems to always be moving. After the movie, they enjoyed lunch with each other and relaxed. The students had an amazing time.
Students commented on how nice it was to be able to relax, unwind and watch a movie with their friends. It gave them a place to focus their brains and slow down for a few hours. Students got the opportunity to be themselves and get out of their comfort zone by acting in front of other students and learning to understand more of their peers. The Valley Guardians Leadership Program is giving these underprivileged students the opportunity of a lifetime and impacting their lives in so many different ways! The scholar students appreciate the Valley Guardian donors for all of their efforts in making a difference in the community as well as in their individual lives!
It’s time to embrace the reality that technology plays a vital role in education. Connecting with students through videos can be an invaluable resource in helping them learn and succeed. Let’s recognize the potential of technology in education and harness its benefits to support our children’s learning journey.
The Valley Guardians Leadership Program
The Valley Guardian program is a multiyear coaching program for underserved students in the community. It was created by successful business people in the valley. They got together and formed a non-profit to find ways to fund developmental programs for kids in underserved communities. This program was aimed toward the underserved kids in the valley who have good hearts and have a desire to be successful and be mentored. The kids who are a part of this program have access to all different kinds of services like professional coaches, coaching calls, getaways, leadership education and training workshops, access to professionals in the valley, college and career readiness and more. The Valley Guardian program started with a single school of 6 students, and overtime has grown to 13 schools, 7 districts, and 49 active students. Overall there have been 120 students who have benefited from this program.
The Valley Guardians program offers over thirty online and in person workshops per year. We do many different types of workshops per year including things like arcades, parks, hikes, parties, and online leadership training. Many of the kids who come are not very social and are looking for a place to feel comfortable and be able to meet new people while being themselves. When they come to programs they have a great time. The way we set them up makes kids feel comfortable, whether we ask them what they are interested in doing or set them up to meet new people through social activities at the beginning of each event. The students find they feel connected and accepted through the program.