Kayla Sherman from Warren County Career Center visited Queensbury Middle School on Tuesday, Oct. 14 and brought along virtual reality goggles for eighth graders in the QMS Explores class.
“They’re using virtual reality goggles, but instead of playing games on it, they’re doing career exploration,” Sherman said. “So if there’s something they may be interested in, but they’re still too young to go to that place and use the tools, they can explore it in virtual reality.”
The VR goggles let students explore careers in agriculture like repairing diesel farm equipment or treating a dog with an ear infection as a veterinary technician. They can explore architecture through rebuilding a destroyed communications tower. Students can try being plumbers, solar technicians, graphic designers, phlebotomists, city planners, X-ray techs, medical assistants, robotics specialists, welders, truck drivers and more.
Some students did virtual electrical work from atop powerlines while others cooked a signature dish as a gourmet chef. Many students enjoyed performing virtual knee surgery.
Eighth grader Alicia Emery explored a virtual career in cosmetology and applied a facial treatment on a client.
“I liked it. It was fun,” Alicia said. “I have one at home, so I was kind of used to it.”