Judith DAmico

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CSU, Chico Engineering Academies November 15, 2007
Project Lead the Way EDUCATING THE WORKFORCE OF
THE FUTURE

• Judith DAmico
• Director of State and Corporate
  Relations
• Project Lead the Way

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THE RELEVANCE QUESTION

• RELEVANT TO STUDENTS
• RELEVANT TO TEACHERS
• RELEVANT TO PARENTS
• RELEVANT TO BUSINESS
• RELEVANT TO COMMUNITY

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Reaching all Students (80 HS)
What does High Rigor High Relevance look
like in a school curriculum ? Project Lead The
Way is a model.
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RIGOR / RELEVANCE FRAMEWORK
PLTW
AP
General Math
Blooms Levels of Learning
Application Model Adapted from W. Daggett
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This is Project/Problem Based Learning!
From Principles of Engineering
Design and build a modifiable device that will
launch a ping pong ball into a 10 inch bowl with
100 accuracy. On launch day the distance will
be varied by the instructor within a range of 5
to 15 feet. High Rigor, High
Context with Predictable
Outcome
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RIGOR / RELEVANCE FRAMEWORK
PLTW
AP
General Math
Blooms Levels of Learning
Application Model Adapted from W. Daggett
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This is Project/Problem Based Learning!
From Digital Electronics
Design and build an electronic device to
automatically measure the distance a person is
away from the device. High
Rigor, High Context with
Unpredictable Results
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RIGOR / RELEVANCE FRAMEWORK
PLTW
AP
General Math
Blooms Levels of Learning
Application Model Adapted from W. Daggett
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STUDENT COMMENTS

• PLTW is a better learning experience because you
  are self-motivated.
• The learning that comes when it doesnt work is
  just as valuable as the learning when it does
  work.
• You think differently because you cannot just
  look up the answers. You have to come up with the
  solution. It is more critical thinking.
• Though Im not pursuing an engineering degree,
  the problem-solving skills learned are important
  no matter your field.

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Teacher Principal Comments

• Our teachers recognize that the same skills
  emphasized in PLTW classes make a student
  successful in any class. (Diane Lashinsky,
  Administrator, The Innovation School)
• I am excited to see PLTW courses challenging
  students with good problems that require strong
  math, science, and analytical skills. As an
  engineer teaching these kinds of things to high
  school kids is as good as it gets. (Craig Devine,
  PLTW Teacher Former Engineer.)

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Business Comments

• I hired four PLTW students right out of high
  school. They came to us with real-life job skills
  and their work has been used in successful
  proposals, products, and systems installations.
  This program is a win for everyone involved.
  (Andrea L. Mann, Ph.D. President, Mann Wireless,
  Ltd.)

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Business Comments

• We are an electronics manufacturing facility, so
  the idea of PLTW fits well into what we do. It
  is exciting to us that our local school has
  embraced the technology field, and that local
  students can finally look at us, know what we do,
  and want to be part of it. (Peg Murphy, Director
  HR, Espey Mfg. Electronics Corporation)

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BUSINESS INDUSTRY SUPPORT

• CMTA (California Manufacturers Technology
  Association
• AeA (American Electronics Association
• Intel
• Comcast

• APPA (American Public Power Association
• IBM
• Northrup Grumman
• Qualcomm
• Gencorp/Aerojet

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• PLTWs NEW
• BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
• CURRICULUM
• Critical Component of the 21st Century Workforce

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PLTW Biomedical Sciences Program

• Design is based on the successful PLTW
  Engineering Program to
• Address the impending critical shortage of
  qualified biomedical science and health
  professionals.
• Prepare students for rigorous post-secondary
  education and training.

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Biomedical Careers--- some examples ---

• Doctor
• Nurse
• Dentist
• Veterinarian
• Medical Technologist
• Pharmaceutical Scientist
• Biomedical Engineer

• Social worker
• Health Information Manager
• Pharmacist
• Ultrasound Technician
• Medical Technical Writer
• Radiologist

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Biomedical Sciences High School Courses

• Principles of the Biomedical SciencesStudent
  work involves the study of human medicine,
  research processes and an introduction to
  bio-informatics
• Human Body SystemsThis course will engage
  students in the study of basic human physiology,
  especially in relationship to human health. Use
  LabVIEW software and Vernier probes to measure
  EKG, heart rate, and blood pressure
• Medical InterventionsStudents will investigate
  various medical interventions that extend and
• improve quality of life, including gene
  therapy, pharmacology, surgery, prosthetics,
  rehabilitation, and supportive care
• Science Research
• This capstone course gives student teams the
  opportunity to work with
• a mentor, identify a science research
  topic, conduct research, write a
• scientific paper, and defend team
  conclusions and recommendations
• to a panel of outside reviewers

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Key Biological Concepts

• Cellular basis of life
• Homeostasis
• Metabolism
• Inheritance of traits
• Defense against disease

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Key Engineering Concepts

• Process of design
• Feedback loops
• Fluid dynamics
• Relationship of structure to function
• Systems

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Next Curriculum Area of Focus

• CREATION OF NEW COURSEWORK FOCUSED ON ENERGY AND
  POWER FOR BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL PLTW
  CURRICULUM.

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Energy Power A Course for PLTW High Schools
and Middle Schools

• A full year course will be developed in Energy
  and Power for high schools and a 9 week unit of
  study for middle schools.
• The course will contain at least the following
  content
• Fossil Fuels
• Bio Fuels
• Solar Energy
• Nuclear Energy
• Geothermal Energy
• Power Systems
• Energy and Power Conversion Systems
• Experts from industry and higher education will
  be engaged to identify the key learning concepts
  as well as project/problem themes intended to
  show that students have learned the key learning
  concepts.

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National Recognition
National Academy of Engineering, National Academy
of Science and the Institute of Medicine October
2005

• PLTW program is recommended as the model
  curriculum for creating K-12 rigorous
  curricula, standards and assessments based on
  world-class standards.
• Students participating in PLTW courses are
  better prepared for college engineering
  programs.

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Innovative Technical Activity in
Academics Project Lead The Way, Inc. and San
Diego State University
Education Program of the Year -2007
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Project Lead The Way 2006 Manhattan
Institute Social Entrepreneurship Award
Project Lead The Way 2006 Bayer Science
Foundation K-12 STEM Best Practices Award
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• Received endorsement of the American Aerospace
  Industry Association (AIA) in December, 2006 as
  offering proven curriculum and teacher
  professional development with the potential to
  increase the quantity and quality of engineers
  and engineering technologists graduating from our
  education system.

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Visit our Website for more Information
WWW.PLTW.ORG Judith DAmico, Director State and
Corporate Relations Western Region judithdamico_at_co
mcast.net