MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The Monroe City School Curriculum Committee approved a new curriculum plan that would allow students to use a virtual reality headset that would put the student in different career environments they are interested in.
“We are charged to expose children to career opportunities outside of high school or after high school,” Monroe City Schools Career and Technical Coordinator Kody Chase said. “Reaching the middle school students is pretty hard to do. We came across this virtual reality software that gives kids an immersive opportunity or an opportunity to immerse themselves in different career trades, career fields, opportunity to do hands-on activities in a virtual world.”
The program is designed for middle schoolers which concerned Board Member Jennifer Hanline. She voted for it, but hopes the technology will be put high schools where it might be more relevant.
“We want to make sure that we’re getting adequate exposure to our students, not only in middle school, but high school,” Haneline said. “This program right now is going to be limited to our middle school students and those who sign up for a particular career readiness class. So we want to look at expanding that and making sure that students are aware that we’re going to have this program and the benefits of that.”
Community Member Vickie Krutzer also had mixed thoughts about whether this would be the best use of federal funds.
“You’re going to pay $90,000 for a program,” Krutzer said. “Right now we’re only talking about possibly 30 to 40 students per junior high, which, that’s not hitting a lot of students. So I would hope that they could take that program and expand it.”
The committee approved a total of eight projects worth more than $500,000. The board will vote on the projects on Wednesday.
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