New VR Field Trips to Showcase Kentucky's Industries

SOUTHEASTERN KY – [March 26, 2025] – Students across Kentucky will soon explore local careers like never before, thanks to a partnership between CareerViewXR, a North Dakota-based immersive education platform, and Kentucky employers. Supported by the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Special Education and Early Learning (OSEEL), this initiative will bring web-based and virtual reality (VR) field trips into classrooms, highlighting careers in construction, marine transportation, and tourism.

This effort is part of KDE’s statewide VR deployment launched in 2024, which provided 2,450 Meta Quest 2 VR headsets and immersive learning content to schools across the state. Recognized as one of the largest VR rollouts led by a state education agency, the initiative aims to support students with disabilities in career and technical education (CTE) while improving post-secondary transition outcomes for all learners. Since deployment, educators have integrated the headsets into lessons to build career literacy, reinforce STEM concepts, and enhance student engagement.

CareerViewXR will collaborate with Cleary Construction, Ingram Barge Company, and Conley Bottom Resort to create interactive field trips highlighting key industries in Kentucky. These VR experiences will offer students an inside look at in-demand careers working in underground utilities and construction, inland marine transportation, and the tourism industry.

"Career exploration should be engaging and accessible for every learner. With VR technology, students of all abilities can gain firsthand experiences in industries that are shaping Kentucky’s future workforce," said Gretta Hylton, Associate Commissioner of the Office of Special Education and Early Learning.

Filming took place from March 24th-26th. The first experiences will spotlight:

Cleary Construction (Bowling Green, KY): Students will explore roles in skilled trades and construction management while learning how underground utilities are installed on-site.

Ingram Barge Company (Paducah, KY): Students will follow deckhands, mates and other crew members to discover how goods are transported along the nation’s inland waterways. Filming for this field trip will take place along the Ohio River, near mile marker 934.

A group photo of the Cleary Construction and CareerViewXR teams.

“This project is a very exciting opportunity for Cleary Construction. We are grateful to partner with the Kentucky Department of Education and CareerViewXR to emphasize our in-high demand careers that we offer,” shared Carter Walden, CTO & Director of Workforce Development at Cleary Construction. He continued, “Having these videos available for students will have a great impact in assisting them to realize what career path they may choose after high school. Whether they continue with a post-secondary education or go straight to work, Cleary Construction depends on both pathways. This project will help underground utility companies to build a younger workforce in highlighting these pathways for school kids at a young age.”

A group photo of the Ingram Barge Company and CareerViewXR teams.

Similarly, Ingram Barge sees the VR experience as an opportunity to introduce students to careers they might not otherwise consider. "The virtual field trip is an exciting and innovative way to pull back the curtain on the maritime transportation industry. This industry offers students a long-term career path straight out of high school that students may have never considered," said John Roberts, CEO of Ingram Barge Company. "Our VR experience will allow students to experience the workday of a mariner living and working on a towboat as it navigates the river."

Ingram Barge Company deckhands, mates, and other crew members prepare to set off on the water.

A third field trip will be filmed later this year at Conley Bottom Resort, on Lake Cumberland near Monticello, KY. This experience will introduce students to hospitality and tourism careers, revealing the unique roles that support Kentucky’s thriving recreation industry.

This project marks CareerViewXR’s first production in Kentucky. “We’re honored to add Kentucky to our growing list of states where we have produced CareerViewXR experiences,” stated Matt Chaussee, CEO and Co-Founder of CareerViewXR. “Thanks to KDE’s visionary approach and partnership between CareerViewXR and local employers, Kentucky students will now be able to explore a variety of careers available right in their own backyard. We're also excited to share these Kentucky experiences with our growing subscriber base across the country. As a member of the Kentucky Chamber, we’re proud to contribute to positive workforce outcomes across the Commonwealth."

The Cleary Construction team uses an excavator to install underground utilities.

When complete, these new field trips will be added to CareerViewXR’s growing library of more than 95 immersive career experiences. Students will access these experiences on VR headsets or any web-enabled device, including laptops, tablets, and phones—ensuring accessibility for all learners.

CareerViewXR’s content joins a broader collection of immersive tools being implemented across Kentucky classrooms including:

ManageXR, enabling educators to manage VR content across schools.

ENGAGE, a virtual platform supporting real-time collaboration.

XReps, providing gamified, football-themed drills to enhance math engagement.

A view from the upper deck of the barge, overlooking the Ohio River.

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About CareerViewXR

CareerViewXR is an immersive career exploration platform that brings field trips to the classroom through 360-degree web-based tours and companion virtual reality videos. Students and adult job seekers alike can explore engaging tours highlighting in-demand industries like skilled trades, healthcare, energy, and more. Best of all – VR headsets are completely optional; the content is accessible on devices you already own – including laptops, cell phones, and tablets. Explore more at careerviewxr.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Maddysen Boecker

Communications Manager, CareerViewXR by Be More Colorful

maddy@bemorecolorful.com

(701) 353-2000 EXT 704