(September 18, 2024) An immersive educational project is taking shape in the vibrant Greater Milwaukee area, all made possible thanks to a VR career exploration grant awarded to Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative, Inc. (LUMIN) Schools.
The team leading this project is the edtech startup, CareerViewXR. This North Dakota-based team captures footage of real professionals in various industries and transforms it into interactive field trips for students and adult career-seekers to explore via the web or virtual reality headsets. Members of their team will be in the Milwaukee area from September 24-26th to capture career content.
LUMIN Schools, a K-8 system of seven faith-based schools located in the communities of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, and Racine, Wisconsin, were selected as recipients of CareerViewXR’s inaugural production grant earlier this year. After an application and interview process, they were named as one of three winning schools from across the United States, the others being located in Illinois and Maine. All three organizations were awarded one 12-month subscription to CareerViewXR, two HTC VIVE virtual reality headsets, and up to two virtual field trips produced in their region. This award package is valued at up to $100,000.
Shaun Luehring, President and CEO of LUMIN Schools, applied for the grant on the school’s behalf. He shared, “We were overwhelmed with excitement at the generous award and opportunities it provides. The mission of CareerViewXR fits perfectly with our desire to ensure every child has the career exposure and experiences to make intentional choices in the future.”
LUMIN Schools and CareerViewXR originally learned about one another through the Yass Prize, a national award program that recognizes innovators in education and educational technology. Both organizations were recognized as semifinalist awardees of this program in 2023. CareerViewXR Co-Founder and CEO Matthew Chauseee recalls learning about LUMIN Schools’ initiatives over the course of the program. Matthew reflected, “LUMIN’s approach to providing career connected learning opportunities for underserved student populations stood out to us as an initiative we needed to support.”
The Fargo, ND-based CareerViewXR crew is excited to be traveling to the Greater Milwaukee area to film. Matthew explained, “Our five-year vision is to produce at least one CareerViewXR experience in every state, and I’m excited to be producing content in Wisconsin, a state that I’ve visited dozens of times and now have the opportunity to support through our unique approach to workforce development.”
LUMIN is currently establishing their career exploration initiative, making this project well-timed. Shaun stated, “We are in the process of building out our career navigation skills as an outcome beginning in elementary school as our desire is to be the premiere K-8 system in the future.” He continues, “We are currently building out our programming for our graduates who are currently in high school to support their career navigation as well.”
With the grant secured, LUMIN President Shaun Luehring proposed working with Lemberg Electric, a provider of electrical services in Southeastern Wisconsin for nearly a century.
Lemberg Electric specializes in electrical construction, commercial and industrial electrical service, as well as data communications services, energy management and commercial signage. For this project, they will be offering a glimpse into a day in the life of a data technician. Data technicians install and maintain the structured and fiber optic cabling networks that support life safety, building security and communications systems. This includes components for fire alarms, video security, building access and alarms, communications, WiFi and more. Data technicians also work with the controls that automate critical building systems such as heating and cooling, lighting, building access, data centers, mass notifications, and emergency call equipment.
"This is the type of project that has the power to direct a life. Through this experience, students will get a very real sense of what this field has to offer with very low risk,” stated Kyle Witte, President of Lemberg Electric Company, Inc. He continued, “At the very least, it will provide a reference point, some context, for the students as they begin to form a vision for their own futures. We are delighted to help provide that!"
As production partner, Lemberg will be representing the electrical industry and sharing their knowledge with the CareerViewXR team during and after their visit. After filming, writing, and editing is complete, the field trip will be added to the platform’s content library. This welcome addition will provide insight not only to local LUMIN Schools students— but also to learners and career-seekers across the world with a unique look into the electrical industry.
This will not be the first time the CareerViewXR team has showcased skilled trades careers. Their library features over 20 field trips focusing on skilled trades with more in the works. “We’re thrilled to be working with Lemberg Electric, an organization that jumped at the chance to support this initiative,” Matthew emphasized. “The wide variety of tasks their electricians perform will be invaluable for helping students identify great career opportunities in the electrical trades, right in their own backyard.”
The CareerViewXR Production Grant will enable LUMIN Schools to enrich students' career awareness from any place at any time. “Children can’t be what they can’t see so the opportunities with CareerViewXR are literally opening doors to the future for our children.” President Luehring said. He added, “In immersive VR they get to reach out and see what they couldn’t dream of before. That impact is truly life altering.”
After filming in Wisconsin, the startup will prepare for their trip to the final grant winning school in Illinois. “We love our home state of North Dakota, but we are well aware that to bring CareerViewXR to a nationwide audience, we need to accurately represent the diversity of American industry, and the diversity of the American workforce.” Matthew explained. He continued, “To date, most of our experiences have been filmed in rural settings. This will be our first time filming in a bustling urban center like Milwaukee. It’s an exciting milestone for our company that will positively impact thousands of students for many years to come.” CareerViewXR plans to offer its production grant annually, aiming to partner with more employers and educational organizations across the U.S. connecting students to a wide range of industries as well as distinctive careers at work in their own communities.
###
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 experiences highlighting in-demand industries like skilled trades, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, technology, 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.
CareerViewXR Website: https://careerviewxr.com/
For media inquiries, please contact:
Maddysen Boecker, Communications Manager at CareerViewXR by Be More Colorful
(701) 353-2000 EXT. 704
Immerse yourself in innovative career exploration with our graduate-level professional development course on Virtual Reality (VR) for Career Exploration. This course is open to all curious educators in the United States and beyond!
This pioneering project leverages statewide partnerships and extended reality technologies to fill high-paying manufacturing jobs and create scalable workforce solutions across North Dakota.
Learn how CareerViewXR is being used in workforce centers across North Dakota, leaving a lasting impact with adult career seekers and students alike.