EARLY YEARS: Virginia Western using VR technology to let students explore career paths
Grant-funded program gives students of all ages access to about 50 career simulations
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Virginia Western Community College is using virtual reality technology to give students a firsthand look at dozens of career options, thanks in part to a grant to expand work-based learning.
The college invested in three VR headsets that use modules from Transfr Trek, a program designed for immersive career exploration and training. The technology allows students of all ages — including community members — to explore about 50 different career paths.
‘A day in the life’
Hannah Newman, a Roanoke 8th grader, used one of the headsets to simulate what it’s like to work as a nurse.
“It was very like, it was like reality. It was like you’re doing it like you were doing it in a hospital,” Newman said.
Her favorite part of the simulation involved a hands-on procedure.
“Probably putting the IV in the arm. It was very easy and you have to be careful what you do. So I think that was my favorite part,” Newman said.
Expanding the definition of work-based learning
Dr. David Porter, Career Center Manager at Virginia Western, said the program is designed to broaden how students think about career exploration.
“A lot of times people, when you say work-based learning, they’ll think of just internships, or they’ll think of just apprenticeships. And for us, we really wanted to challenge that model and say anything that a student can essentially experience a job — whether that be for a day, whether that be for an hour, and in this case, whether that be for eight or nine minutes — they have the opportunity to be exposed to the kind of environment that the job operates in,” Porter said.
The available simulations span multiple industries. “We have things like software engineering, like the software pathway for our trades, which is really a big hook for us. We have things like linemen, we have wonderful healthcare jobs, where a lot of these are really hands-on, direct patient care kind of experiences,” Porter said.
The VR technology isn’t just for students. Anyone in the community can come try the headsets, if they contact the career center for an appointment.
Click here to learn more about the Hall Associates Career Center at Virginia Western, or call 540-857-7298.
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