Lethbridge Polytechnic has received $450,000 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for an applied research project to develop virtual reality (VR) experiences for youth interested in public safety careers.
Housed in the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE), this research initiative is led by the Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR) in partnership with VRCORE, a Calgary-based augmented reality educational provider who also provided $112,500 in funding, bringing the total project value of $563,000. While VRCORE will aid in development of the experiences, CPSAR researchers will consult with multiple policing services across the province, conceptualize scenarios and collect, analyze and review data.
"Public opinion and popular culture have skewed how people view careers in public safety," says Dean Kolebaba, principal researcher and program chair in Lethbridge Polytechnic's School of Justice Studies. "It's not about chasing bad guys and fighting, it's about conversations, engaging with the community and de-escalation. Our goal is to change that perception and show youth who are exploring their options what a career in public safety looks and feels like."
The experiences will use immersive, multi-user VR scenarios geared toward youth aged 15 to 24. With a focus on ensuring content is age-appropriate and representative of the realities of public safety, youth participants can expect scenarios that test mental skills, spark curiosity and grow their understanding of what it means to work in the field.
Jason Van Hierden, founder and president of VRCORE, has spent years developing VR experiences in both entertainment and education. He says his focus is on career exploration.
"Our goal at VRCORE is to take the guesswork out of deciding what career someone should pursue," says Van Hierden. "With these experiences, participants can partake in activities ranging from solving puzzles to having conversations, building a data profile of their skills and interests that can guide them toward high school courses and/or post-secondary programs."
"This is an exciting opportunity for the polytechnic to work with VRCORE, a long-time partner in both the VR space and in promoting public safety," says Dr. Kirsten Fantazir, president's applied research chair in public safety, CPSAR. "By developing and offering cost-effective, immersive and inclusive learning experiences for youth, VR not only enhances engagement but also breaks down barriers to access and understanding."
"The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) is proud to support Lethbridge Polytechnic's CPSAR VR project an innovative, evidence-informed initiative that deepens understanding and engagement with realities of modern policing," says Leticia Aplin, executive director, AACP.
The first stages of the project will focus on developing an accurate representation of a public safety career. Over the next three years, the project will move to designing and testing interactive scenarios where participants collaborate with peers to potentially solve logic puzzles, review evidence and present their findings. While there will be no wrong answers in these scenarios, administrators will assess engagement and use the results to connect youth with learning opportunities that build on their interests.
"We will always need people to serve in public safety roles, from police officers to correctional workers," says Kolebaba. "These are meaningful and rewarding careers, and our hope is we can share that knowledge with youth at a critical time in their lives when they are looking for purpose, direction and meaning."
Lethbridge Polytechnic's Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship directly engages in applied research projects that tackle real-world challenges with immediate and practical impacts. In partnership with industry, community organizations, researchers and students, CARIE's mandate is to deliver results that solve today's problems and drive tomorrow's innovation.
To learn more about applied research activities and projects at Lethbridge Polytechnic, visit: lethpolytech.ca/CARIE.
