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Tennessee STEM Education Center

An Investigation of Virtual Reality Initiatives and Workforce Development

Primary Investigator: Chaney Mosley 
Additional PIs: Kevin Ragland  ; Mary Ellen Sloane  ; Ying Jin 
Sponsor: Institute of Museum and Library Services
Sponsor Award Number: LG-254869-OLS-23

Overview: 
Middle Tennessee State University will conduct applied research to investigate virtual reality career exploration and training initiatives in libraries and their role in yielding positive workforce outcomes for patrons. The project will partner with public libraries in economically distressed, at-risk, and transitioning areas, providing them with VR technology equipped with workforce simulations. The project will survey and interview library patrons, staff, and stakeholders about their experiences with VR programming, including ways in which the experience may be associated with workforce outcomes (e.g., technical skills, industry credentials, new employment). The project anticipates producing publications, presentations, podcasts, testimonies, and a best practice guide to help share results and promote widespread adoption of VR programming in libraries for workforce development, benefiting under skilled library patrons and staff, employers, and communities.

MTSU-led $550K federal grant funds rural libraries’ virtual reality training to help patrons explore career possibilities

[March 2024] MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Through a three-year, nearly $550,000 federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and managed by Middle Tennessee State University, six rural Tennessee libraries will utilize virtual reality training to help their community residents explore employment opportunities. Continue to Story

Community Marketing Resources

Click HERE to view the project’s press release. 
VR Launch Flyer

Manual for Participating Libraries

Content coming soon.

FAQs

Content coming soon.

There are six counties across Tennessee where you can access these interactive virtual reality simulations. The closest near you could be Adams Memorial Library in Cannon County, Altamont Library in Grundy County, Clay County Library, Fentress County Public Library, Millard Oakley Public Library in Overton County, or White County Public Library.

Three of these six counties, Grundy, Cannon, and Fentress have one virtual reality headset available to library patrons to explore careers within over 30 available simulations.

Libraries including Clay, Overton and White have two virtual reality headsets available to library patrons. One includes the career exploration simulations, and the other headset includes skills training simulations where you can actually work up to gain certification for particular jobs and careers.

Visit your local or neighboring library and try it out today!

Virtual Reality for Workforce Development in Tennessee – Training, March 11, 2024.

White County Library Director Cathy Farley with Lily Woodside receiving the VR Content Binder and documentation.