ROE rolls out 26 VR healthcare modules to introduce students to medical careers

Kristin Borak, regional superintendent for the Regional Office of Education, told the LaSalle County Services & Health Committee that the ROE used federal ARPA dollars and other grants to buy virtual-reality systems and curriculum so K–12 students in LaSalle, Putnam and Marshall counties can explore health-care careers in classrooms.

The program is meant to give students simulated, hands-on exposure to jobs that local schools and hospitals say are in short supply. “With that we purchased actually 26 VR systems that we then put through local more elementary schools,” Borak said. The rollout included training events at Illinois Valley Community College and partner work with OSF HealthCare to create Enduvo software modules, officials said.

Why it matters: Local officials described shortages of nurses, EMTs and other clinical staff and said exposing students to careers earlier could increase post‑secondary enrollment in local training programs such as IVCC and ultimately supply local employers. The ROE presented the program as part of a broader STEM and PACE career-exploration strategy that regional schools can weave into STEM or science classes.

The ROE said the project cost initially was estimated at about $242,000 in grant funding and that the technology price declined during procurement. “So we run about $3,000 for the headset and the station with the high‑tech computer,” Borak said, noting districts that want more units could purchase additional headsets. Zach Shaw, technical director at the ROE, described the software and the classroom experience: “They can kind of get their hands wet figure out do they like doing this or not is that the career for them,” he said.

Officials said 26 units were distributed across participating elementary schools so more districts could access the hardware through rotation; teachers told the ROE one unit in a classroom often fits better than a class set because of space and student movement. The ROE said Enduvo modules created by OSF include clinical simulations labeled surgical tech, dental assistant, bioengineer, EMT, nurse, patient care technician and respiratory therapist; Shaw also said the software includes additional experiences such as lab technician and social work modules.

The ROE reported usage data so far: 610 hours logged on the SteamVR/Enduvo platform across the region in the program's first weeks. Borak and Shaw said the office will continue to monitor use and survey districts; the ROE will send a Google form to technical directors and teachers to collect classroom‑level feedback and to identify modules that are underused so the program can be adjusted.

Funding and partners: Borak said LaSalle County provided local funds for ROE staff and that the purchase was supported by a combination of ARPA federal dollars, state grants and a statewide digital equity grant that allowed additional units to be purchased for Marshall and Putnam counties. The ROE said LaSalle County funds remain dedicated to LaSalle students while the three‑county office coordinates distribution and training. OSF HealthCare produced the Enduvo content and personnel from Illinois Valley Community College helped lead trainings.

Program rollout and next steps: the ROE has conducted demonstrations at IVCC career events, held trainings for teachers and arranged classroom placements. Officials said the PACE model (career exploration beginning in middle school) provides a way for schools to fit the units into existing rotations; teachers typically rotate small groups through STEM stations or assign individual students to the unit on a schedule. The ROE plans to keep monitoring usage, solicit teacher feedback and consider district purchases for additional units.

Borak also invited committee members to the regional Excellence in Education event May 1, where the ROE will highlight regional programs including the VR rollout.