When young adults begin to imagine their lives and their futures beyond high school, the consideration likely brings about a range of emotions. Surely it is equal parts exhilarating and overwhelming.
And there will be questions. What kinds of careers are appealing? What levels of education are needed? And perhaps most importantly and succinctly, how can those goals be reached?
Currently there are several school districts in north-central Indiana that have given students the chance to practice skills in various fields of manufacturing and entrepreneurship. The program is a collaboration between Indiana-based iXplore and OrthoWorx, to enlighten teen students about the wealth of possibilities that are available to them.
The project promises to broaden outreach and provide greater exposure to prospective job paths by way of virtual-reality studies in three key concentrations of higher learning, including publishing, machining and business leadership. OrthoWorx, through the assistance of a grant from the Don Wood Foundation, has a goal to increase awareness about the vast scope of careers in orthopedics. The program, in its first year, will be introduced to eighth-grade scholars in the Warsaw, Whitko, Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley school districts.
iXplore provides the tools to present immersive and interactive experiences for students across the United States. Utilizing the technology of virtual reality, it motivates participants through specialized lessons that incorporate powerful lessons with a fun flourish and a gaming style that attracts younger users.
“We take an intentional and creative approach to our experiences, understanding that each industry and role carries with it a unique ‘why’ that matters more to young people than just the ‘what’ and the ‘how,'” said iXplore CEO and Co-founder Heather Jackson.
Erin Serafino, who serves as talent director for OrthoWorx, said, “the program offers students a chance to be a publisher, machinist or entrepreneur, by doing and experiencing what the job is actually like in the VR headset. During the 2024-25 school year, we will be taking this to the schools. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, students will step into the VR experiences at the Discover Manufacturing program each October.”
According to a recent Conexus Indiana report, “Indiana is at an inflection point – the state is already a national advanced manufacturing and logistics leader, but to maintain its leadership position and reach global prominence, Indiana must build the workforce of the future and enable industry 4.0 occupations to increase productivity and competitiveness.”
“We have many opportunities here in Warsaw in orthopedics, and we want to share those opportunities with students as they plan their high school years,” Serafino noted. ”Our high schools have career centers that offer classes in machining and entrepreneurship, so if eighth-grade students are excited about these options, they can be sure to build them into their high school class schedules.”
Serafino also spoke about how these pathways might be attractive for students seeking career journeys in which four year colleges are not a mandatory prerequisite.
“Many of the manufacturing jobs in Warsaw are high-paying jobs with great benefits,” she said. “They do not require four-year degrees, but they do require some training and certifications. Some employers are willing to train employees or provide funding for the employee to seek certifications outside the workplace. During our research phase of this project, we met many men and women who are doing really well in manufacturing without a four-year degree. These high-performing employees are always eager to learn new skills and take advantage of the many training opportunities of their employers.”
“We hope to add more careers to the orthopedic VR experience over time,” she added. “We plan to take the 24 headsets to schools throughout the state.”
Serafino encourages educators at the middle and high school levels to reach out to her to inquire and learn more about the program. She can be reached via email at erin.serafino@orthoworxindiana.com.
