WATERTOWN, NY (September 16, 2024) – Join WPBS on Monday, September 23, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, to celebrate the launch of the new and improved GPS for Success website. The event will be held at the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES District Office, 20104 State Route 3, Watertown, NY 13601. Attendees will hear from key contributors to the website, including representatives from WPBS-TV, BOCES, Long Story Short, and up360. The program will also include a website overview and demonstration. Refreshments will be provided.
In 2015, WPBS launched the GPS For Success website to help middle and high school students in Northern New York navigate their career options. In Early 2020, WPBS began work to update the site and decided to completely reimagine GPS for Success, creating a gamified immersive experience that would better engage the target demographic of 11 – 15-year-olds. The website is a journey through a virtual town square, navigating around obstacles and encountering characters along the way. Clicking on a Character Avatar launches an immersive 180-degree video interview, recorded at a work site in the North Country where the interviewee briefly describes their career journey and occupation.
The renovated website includes: an aptitude assessment tool, extensive information on post-secondary education and training options in New York State, guidance on resume writing, interview preparation, job readiness and detailed descriptions of each of the 16 career clusters. To compliment the renovated website, a set of virtual reality experiences have been developed and will be in-person in classroom settings across the North Country.
GPS for Success will empower young people to begin the process to “find your way to a job you love” at mygpsforsuccess.com.
Schools and educators interested in hosting in-person GPS for Success Virtual Reality events are encouraged to reach out to Justin Keegan, WPBS Manager, Education and Lifelong Learning Services, at 315-782-3142 ext. 320 or email: jkeegan@wpbstv.org.Â
About WPBS
WPBS is a PBS station serving approximately 600,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario via cable, satellite, Internet and over-the-air distribution. WPBS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate and inspire diverse communities with exceptional and trusted content across multiple platforms. Its vision is to be the premier provider of relevant public service media that instills wonder and curiosity across generations and cultures. More information about WPBS, including a full channel listing, is available at wpbstv.org, or by following WPBS on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Download the free WPBS Mobile App to follow WPBS on the go.
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