1. National Academy Foundation
Academies of Engineering Conference for Counselors
October 30, 2012

2. Directors of School Engagement
• Focus is on engaging non-PLTW schools/districts
and assist them with implementing PLTW
• DSEs work hand-in-hand with Affiliate Directors
• Organized by region; regional VPs are:
East: Dr. Carol D’Amico Midwest: William White
West Central: Cathy Lund West: Susan Castillo
• PLTW recently expanded
engagement network:
24 DSEs, assigned by state

3. The Urgency for
STEM Education

4. The State of the Nation
“… We project an annual need of 400,000
college graduates in STEM majors to remain
competitive in the global marketplace.”
National Business Roundtable
But “ … Of the 4 million 9th graders who began
their high school careers in 2004, only 4%
(167,000) graduated in 2012 with
a bachelors degree in a STEM major.”
National Center for Education Statistics

5.  In 2000, when the first plant genome
was sequenced, it took 7 years, cost $70
million, and required about 500 people.
 The same project today takes
about 3 minutes and costs about
$100.

6. Top Careers in 2020
1. Computer Occupations
2. Engineers
3. Advertising, Marketing, Promotions, & Public Relations
4. Operations Specialties Managers
5. Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
6. Business Operations Specialists
7. Financial Specialists
8. Other Management
9. Sales Representatives, Services
10. Supervisors of Sales Workers
The Brookings Institution

7. The Demand for Talent in 2020
“ …In the job market, [currently] there
are approximately 3 million unfilled positions
because companies can't find workers with
basic technical skills. There's expected to
be about 10 million such openings by 2020.”
US News

8. Talent
“ … Access to talent has replaced access to
capital as the key competitive differentiator
in American industry.”
ManpowerGroup

9. PLTW

10. "PLTW is preparing students today to be the innovators of the future. For California to
remain the innovation leader it is critical for our students to enter into the workforce
The U.S. Department of Education recommends
pipeline that have not only math, science and engineering skills, but are also able to
solve problems, work as a team and take risks. PLTW is a program that gives the
PLTW as “[A]n exemplary program for integrating
students the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.”
- Michael Jacobsen, Intel Corporation
rigorous and relevant STEM curricula and professional
“PLTW’s track record of preparing students for college engineering programs is
development and improving student achievement in
unparalleled.”
- Jim Knots, Lockheed Martin
mathematics, plays a vital role and Englishand high school students
“Project Lead The Way
science, in recruiting middle language arts.”
into engineering fields by offering the resources and professional development needed
to support a rigorous pre-engineering curriculum.”
- Thomas H. Lane, American Chemical Society
“PLTW is one of the most effective science, technology, engineering, and math
programs in the country. We haven’t seen another program that engages students the
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called PLTW
way PLTW does.”
- Jim Rah, Kern Family Foundation
“[A]We endorsed PLTWprogram network’s “proven curricula and teacher training of
promising because of the that is both changing the lives
middle and high schooltechnical education and excite students abouthelping
that allow schools to both improve students nationwide and
careers in technology fields.”
to build- a workforce that meets the needs of the 21st
Lawrence P. Farrell, National Defense Industry Association
“PLTW makes the connection between theory and practice that helps generate interest
century.”
in math and science and increase overall academic performance.”
- Dr. Ronald Bennett, Minnesota Center for Engineering &
Manufacturing Excellence

11. PLTW is the nation’s leading provider of
STEM Education
Programs are dynamic, Students are provided
rigorous with a foundation and
and emphasize a proven path to
creativity college and career
Programs readiness
Programs offer Students are highly
students real world engaged and exposed to
problem solving and typically non-pursued
critical thinking skills areas of study

13. Studies have shown that PLTW students…
• Are more likely to achieve higher ACT composite
scores and higher ACT math and science scores
• Perform higher on Basic Skills Tests (Minnesota
Basic Skills Tests and California Standards Tests)
• Have higher attendance rates and graduation rates
• Have a higher rate of pursuit of undergraduate and
graduate degrees
• Are four times more likely to study engineering or
engineering technology in college
• Are more likely to have a clear and confident sense of
the types of college majors and jobs they intend to
pursue
… than non-PLTW students!

14. The National PLTW Network
2012 - 2013
 Active School Districts = 2199
 Active Schools = 4782 747 are
new!
 Active Programs = 5212
• Pathway to Engineering = 2758
• Gateway to Technology = 1907
• Biomedical Sciences = 547

15. PLTW Program Growth Nationally
3000
2500
BMS
2000
ENG
GTT
1500
1000
500
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

16. 2012 PLTW Programs
431
Top Ten States
362 345 332 322
292
258
205 199 198

17. Curriculum Programs

18. Curriculum Programs
Technology Program
• Middle School: Gateway To Technology
– 7 units
Engineering Program
• High School: Pathway To Engineering
– 8 courses
Biomedical Sciences Program
• High School: Biomedical Sciences
– 4 courses

19. Gateway To Technology Program
Foundation Units
• Design and Modeling
• Automation and Robotics
• Energy and the Environment
Specialization Units
• Flight and Space
• Science of Technology
• Magic of Electrons
• Green Architecture
• Medical Detectives – 2013/14

20. Gateway To Technology Program
Summary of Program Requirements
• All GTT courses are designed as nine-week units
• Schools may offer units in grades six, seven, or eight
in a manner they determine reasonable and
appropriate for their school
• The minimum implementation is two units: Design
and Modeling, and Automation and Robotics
• Units may be offered as a science curriculum or as an
elective offering

21. Pathway to Engineering Program
Foundation Courses
• Introduction to Engineering Design
• Principles Of Engineering
Specialization Courses
• Aerospace Engineering
• Biotechnical Engineering
• Civil Engineering and Architecture
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Digital Electronics
• Computer Science and Software Engineering – 2014/15
Capstone Course
• Engineering Design and Development

22. Pathway to Engineering Program
Summary of Program Requirements
• Schools must offer a minimum of three PLTW
courses
– The two foundation courses plus one additional
• Concurrent enrollment in college preparatory
mathematics is required
• All courses are year-long courses
• Schools may determine their own implementation
sequence

23. Biomedical Sciences Program
Foundation Courses
• Principles of the Biomedical Sciences
• Human Body Systems
• Medical Interventions
Capstone Course
• Biomedical Innovation

24. Biomedical Sciences Program
Summary of Program Requirements
• Schools must offer a minimum of three courses
• Courses are sequential
• All PLTW courses require concurrent enrollment in
college preparatory mathematics and science courses
• All PLTW courses are designed as year-long courses on
a standard 45-50 minute schedule
• Teacher requirements: four-year degree and two
semesters of college-level biology

25. Course #1: Principles of the Biomedical
Sciences
• Students study human medicine, research processes and
an introduction to bioinformatics.
• Students investigate the human body systems and
various health conditions
• Topics include:
– Literary research skills
– Human body systems
– Basic chemistry
– Structure and function of DNA
– Protein structure
– Causes of infectious diseases

26. Course #2: Human Body Systems
• Students study basic human physiology, especially in
relationship to human health, and how the body systems
work together to maintain good health.
• Students use data acquisition software to monitor body
functions and use the Anatomy in Clay® Manikens™ to
study body structure.
• Topics include:
– Relationship between structure and function
– Maintenance of health
– Defense against disease
– Communication within the body & with the outside world
– Movement of the body and of substances around the body
– Energy distribution and processing

27. Course #3: Medical Interventions
• Students study the variety of medical interventions
involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family.
• Student projects investigate interventions related to
diagnostics, immunology, surgery, genetics,
pharmacology, medical devices, & lifestyle choices.
• Topics include:
– Molecular biology and genetic engineering
– Design process for pharmaceuticals and medical devices
– Medical imaging, including x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans
– Disease detection and prevention
– Rehabilitation after disease or injury
– Medical interventions of the future

28. Course #4: Biomedical Innovation
• Students apply their knowledge and skills to answer
questions or to solve problems related to the biomedical
sciences.
• Students design innovative solutions for the health
challenges of the 21st century.
• Curriculum consists of 8 problems:
– Design of an Effective Emergency Room
– Exploring Human Physiology
– Design of a Medical Innovation
– Investigating Environmental Health
– Combating a Public Health Issue
– Molecular Biology in Action (Optional)
– Forensic Autopsy (Optional)
– Independent Project (Optional)

29. Assessments

30. End of Year Assessments
• All PTE and BMS courses (except for the Capstone
courses) include a required End of Year assessment
• Assessment are constructed to be indicators of
student achievement
• Scores are utilized in many ways:
– Basis for college credit
– Accountability decisions at local schools, post-
secondary institutions, and state departments of
education
• PLTW also uses the aggregated information to make
data-driven curricular and professional development
adjustments

31. What’s new for 2012 – 13?
• Student rostering will be completed via school-level Excel file
• All assessments will be administered online
• Each course will have one assessment
• Tests will be structured to allow for a midway stopping point,
allowing schools with shorter class periods to take the tests over
two days
• Increased security protocol will allow for all students to have a
fair testing experience
• Norm-referenced End of Course scores will be reported,
providing more information than previous scores.
• A new data reporting feature will allow teachers and school
administrators to access current and historic PLTW test data.

33. Common Core
Standard Alignment

34. Common Core Standards Alignment
• All PLTW courses and units are aligned to
Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for
Mathematics and English Language Arts
• Alignments will be available at
alignment.pltw.org
• Alignments to Next Generation Science
Standards (NGSS) will be completed and
available soon after those standards are
finalized and released.

35. High School Certification

36. Benefits of Certification
• Schools know their alignment with
program quality standards
• Schools receive national and local
recognition
• Students have access to college level
recognition
• Teachers are eligible to become PLTW
master teachers

37. The Process
1. Download certification documents.
2. Form a committee.
3. Submit self assessment document.
4. Schedule site visit.
5. Execute certification visit.
6. Affiliate prepares report.
7. Celebrate success.

38. Preparing for the Visit
• What the visit team would like to do
 In-brief and out-brief with program leaders
 Meet with counselors, teachers, parents, students
 Perform a classroom observation
• What the visit team would like to see
 Instructional and prep spaces
 Examples of student portfolios and notebooks
 Evidence of software use
 Evidence of partnership team meetings
 Evidence of student participation in college prep
math

39. Certification Outcomes
• Certified – meets all quality standards and
conforms to network agreement
• Provisionally Certified – One or more required
standard is not met, students may pursue college
credit, school does not receive a banner
• Probation – School does not make reasonable
progress to address deficiencies, may result in
removal from network

40. Issues with Current Process
• Voluntary for schools with four courses
• Three course programs are excluded
• Resource intense-many schools do not
want to pay for it
• Process is dependent on the capacity of
the Affiliate Network
• Capacity issues increase with growth

41. The Dilemma
• How do we ensure that ALL PLTW programs
are implemented with fidelity and are of
high quality?
• How do we motivate schools to
continuously improve their PLTW
programs?
• How do we recognize exemplary programs
and motivate other schools to achieve at that
level?

42. Initial thoughts on new process
• Mandatory with differing levels of attainment
• Standardized process across the network
• Increased cost effectiveness with data analysis
through IT connectivity
• Ensures all PLTW programs are implemented
with fidelity
• Recognizes exemplary programs

43. Initial thoughts on new process
• PLTW School - new schools that do not have a fully developed
program will be PLTW schools upon successful completion of
initial Core Training. Schools receive access to PLTW assets for
up to four years with appropriate progress toward the creation
of a certified program.
• PLTW Certified Program - mandatory quality level awarded
upon successful completion of five key components of the STEM
Agreement and Program Requirements. The five key
components include:
• Program of study with a three course minimum
• Trained teachers for all courses offered
• EoC assessments
• Trained counselors
• Partnership Team
• PLTW Model Program - certified program with additional
quality indicators.

44. Initial thoughts on new process
• Probation- schools that are not in compliance will be placed on
probation. Failure to comply with requirements within one year
will result in the elimination of program from PLTW resources
and the PLTW network.
• Provisional Certification- schools that have achieved
certification, but have one or more courses taught by an
untrained teacher due to an unforeseen event that occurred after
Core Training ended. Provisionally certified schools will have
one year to rectify the training. Failure to do so will result in
probation.

45. College Level Recognition

46. Colleges or Universities
• Trends are constantly evolving
• Each institution sets its own guidelines for
providing recognition
• Some provide:
• Course substitution credit
• Advanced standing credit
• Partial course credit
• Detailed info by institution is available on the
PLTW website

47. Student Responsibility
 Attend a PLTW certified high school
 Earn a B or better in a PLTW course
 Complete a course portfolio
 Score 70% or higher on the end-of-course exam
 Submit an application for undergraduate credit

48. High School Responsibility
 Become a PLTW certified school
 Register all PLTW students
 Comply with end-of-course testing procedures
 Submit end-of-course exam score report
 Distribute student course portfolios
 Ensure student transcripts include PLTW along
with the course title

49. Diversity

50. PLTW Students
• PLTW programs are inclusive and reach a diverse
group of students:
– Distributed across the entire economic spectrum including
the least affluent schools
– Proportional race/ethnic group representation
 Female participation in PLTW:
 Overall: ~24%
 Biomedical Sciences: ~70%
 Biomedical Engineering: ~38%
 Male and female achievement on end-of-course
exams is equal in all courses

51. Women comprise 74% of girls say they
48% of the US have an interest in
STEM
workforce but just
24% of STEM BUT,
workers. – NCES only 13% say they
“The Nation’s Report Card would pursue a
Science 2009” career in STEM.
Fewer than 15% of
American engineers are
women. – National Math and Science
Initiative Website

52. What’s being done?
 Coupling gender equity to program certification
 A point of emphasis at every Conference
 PhD level research on best practices
 Programmatic focus on younger students
 Role models / mentors
 Specialized programs for girls
 Summer Gateway Academy
 After school girls’ clubs
 Moms’ night out

53. Hispanic / Latino Student Results
• A control group study that evaluated the impact of
PLTW on largely Latino-populated middle schools in
WI found that the initial 6th grade math, reading and
science proficiency gaps were eliminated by 8th grade.
• At Galt HS in CA, PLTW has been an effective
program at narrowing the achievement gap for
Hispanic/Latino students in all four core areas:
– Hispanic/Latino PLTW students scored higher than other
Hispanic/Latino non-PLTW students in all five subject areas of the
California Standards Test.

54. Partnerships

55. 55

56. Strategic Business and Philanthropic Partners
BUSINESS EDUCATION
SPONSORSHIPS FOUNDATIONS
PARTNERS INITIATIVES

57. IGNITING IMAGINATION AND
INNOVATION THROUGH
LEARNING
www.pltw.org

58. Questions?
Greg Quam
Director of School Engagement – Wisconsin
gquam@pltw.org
Sena Cooper
Director of School Engagement – Illinois
scooper@pltw.org