Mobile virtual‑ and mixed‑reality provider says demand outstrips capacity in Michigan schools
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Summary
Emerge, a Metro Detroit workforce development consultant, told a House appropriations subcommittee that virtual, augmented and mixed reality experiences are being used to provide career exploration and short skills simulations to Michigan students, but that costs and school capacity limit sustained adoption. The vendor asked for consideration of
Emerge, a Metro Detroit consulting firm that operates mobile virtual and mixed reality sites, presented data and demonstrations to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on School Aid and the Department of Education and urged broader, sustained support to expand access in Michigan classrooms.
Joe Bamberger, founder and managing partner of Emerge, told the committee the organization has taken mixed reality resources to about 8,000 students across 23 counties and 60 schools and is operating additional mobile visits five days a week. "We are in schools 5 days a week and having to turn schools down because of the demand that we are having for them," Bamberger said.
How the XR approach is used
Bamberger described three primary uses for extended reality (XR): short career exploration simulations (four to six minutes), deeper skills development simulations (15–30 minutes) and supplemental STEM instruction. He said XR is particularly useful where classroom replication would be dangerous, impossible or prohibitively expensive — using the DICE framework (dangerous, impossible, counterproductive, expensive) — and gave examples including simulated utility repairs, job‑interview practice and mixed‑reality classroom management tools.
Program delivery and limitations
Emerge operates mobile headsets and site teams that bring sets of 15–30 headsets to schools for day‑long events; the group has three year‑round pilot sites placed at CTE centers in Shiawassee, Eaton and Muskegon that host more sustained activity. Bamberger said school uptake of permanent sites has lagged because districts are hesitant to take on the professional development and ongoing lab management required to operate XR permanently.
Committee concerns and evidence
Committee members asked about evidence behind national statistics Bamberger cited relating to degree completion and underemployment. Representative Steckloff asked for the source of several statistics; Bamberger said he believed the data came from a U.S. News report and offered to share the source later. Representatives raised concerns about cost, sustained teacher time, curriculum integration and whether a mobile exposure model yields long‑term results.
What Emerge is asking for
Bamberger suggested partnerships and grant support to offset hardware costs and to centralize XR resources through intermediate school districts or CTE centers. He said Emerge connects XR exposure to a job‑connection platform that helps route students to internships, job shadows and employer partners and that the mobile visits have increased interest in CTE coursework at some schools.
Provenance
topicintro: Emerge presentation introduction (block_id:1777.2). topicfinish: end of Emerge Q&A and transition (block_id:2807.46).
