2. Why PLTW?
• Exposes students to courses they typically don’t have
access to in high school
• Provides foundation and path to college and career
success
• More than 4,200 schools in 50 states
offer PLTW courses
• WA State Senate Bill 5974 encourages
colleges and to grant credit to students
who complete PLTW courses in high
school
3. WHAT’S A PLTW
CLASSROOM LIKE?
• Engaging
• Thought-provoking
• Innovative
• Project-based learning that develops critical
thinking skills
• Prepares students for real-world challenges
4. Application of STEM
• Taught during middle and high school
• PLTW teachers have extensive training
• Subject matter is rigorous
• Approach is flexible
• Assessment and evaluation are critical
components
• Schools can customize to needs of their
academic environments
5. PLTW’s Curricula
• Complete package
• Allows instructor to focus on
• Teaching
• Student achievement
• Assessment
• Professional development
6. Professional
Development
• Teachers complete a two-week training
session for each PLTW class they teach
• PLTW’s Virtual Academy
• Detailed materials for each lesson
• Video’s of master teachers teaching PLTW
lessons
• Collaboration tools
• Discussion forums for Q & A
7. Benefits of PLTW
Program
• A turnkey curriculum package
• Online resources
• Based on national standards
• Teacher training
• EOC assessments
• Nationwide support network
8. PLTW’s Programs
• High School
• Pathway To Engineering (PTE) and Biomedical
Sciences (BMS)
• Middle School
• Gateway To Technology (GTT)
9. GTT
• Grades 6-8 Gateway to Technology
• Use modeling software to design and test ideas
• Study mechanical and computer control systems
• Explore the importance of Energy
10. GTT Courses
• Foundational Units
• Automation and Robotics
• Design and Modeling
• Specialization Units
• Energy and the Environment
• Flight and Space
• Green Architecture
• Magic of Electrons
• Science of Technology
• Medical Detectives
11. BMS
• High School Biomedical Sciences
• Explore concept of human medicine
• Physiology
• Genetics
• Microbiology
• Public health
• Explore prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
of disease
12. BMS Coursework
• Foundational Units
• Principles of the Biomedical Sciences
• Human Body Systems
• Medical Interventions
• Capstone Course
• Biomedical Innovation
13. PTE
• High school Pathway to Engineering Program
• Discover how things are made and what processes
go into creating products
• Explore aerodynamics, astronautics, and space life
sciences
• Apply biological and engineering concepts related
to biomechanics
• Design, test, and construct circuits and devices
such as smart phones and tablets
14. PTE Coursework
• Foundational Units
• Introduction to Engineering
Design
• Principles of Engineering
• Specialization Units
• Aerospace Engineering
• Biotechnical Engineering
• Civil Engineering and
Architecture
• Computer Integrated
Manufacturing
• Digital Electronics
15. Implementing a PLTW
Program
• For High Schools
• Must offer minimum of three courses in three
years from the date that it commences the first
class
• For Middle Schools
• Must offer the Design and Modeling and
Automation and Robotics units in the first year
of implementation
16. HS Implementation (Continued)
• PTE courses must include:
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Principles of Engineering
• Any PTE specialization course
• BMS courses must include:
• Principles of the Biomedical Sciences
• Human Body Systems
• Medical interventions
17. PLTW Implementation
• PLTW curriculum is provided at no charge to
schools
• Main costs
• Program participation fees
• Classroom equipment
• Kits for hands-on activities
• Required professional development
