National Academy Foundation Academies of Engineering Conference for Counselors

October 30, 2012

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

The Urgency for STEM Education

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

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.

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

“ …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

The Demand for Talent in 2020

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

Talent

PLTW

"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 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 students the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.” - Michael Jacobsen, Intel Corporation

“PLTW’s track record of preparing students for college engineering programs is unparalleled.” - Jim Knots, Lockheed Martin

“Project Lead The Way plays a vital role in recruiting middle and high school students into engineering fields by offering the resources and professional development needed to support a rigorous pre-engineering curriculum.” - Thomas H. Lane, American Chemical Society

The U.S. Department of Education recommends PLTW as “[A]n exemplary program for integrating

rigorous and relevant STEM curricula and professional development and improving student achievement in mathematics, science, and English language arts.”

“PLTW makes the connection between theory and practice that helps generate interest in math and science and increase overall academic performance.” - Dr. Ronald Bennett, Minnesota Center for Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence

“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 way PLTW does.” - Jim Rah, Kern Family Foundation

We endorsed PLTW because of the network’s “proven curricula and teacher training that allow schools to both improve technical education and excite students about careers in technology fields.” - Lawrence P. Farrell, National Defense Industry Association

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called PLTW “[A] promising program that is both changing the lives of middle and high school students nationwide and helping

to build a workforce that meets the needs of the 21st century.”

PLTW is the nation’s leading provider of STEM Education

Programs

Students are provided with a foundation and

a proven path to college and career

readiness

Students are highly engaged and exposed to

typically non-pursued areas of study

Programs offer students real world problem solving and critical thinking skills

Programs are dynamic, rigorous and emphasize creativity

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!

The National PLTW Network 2012 - 2013

Active School Districts = 2199

Active Schools = 4782

Active Programs = 5212 • Pathway to Engineering = 2758 • Gateway to Technology = 1907 • Biomedical Sciences = 547

747 are new!

PLTW Program Growth Nationally

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

BMS

ENG

GTT

431

362 345 332 322 292

258 205 199 198

2012 PLTW Programs Top Ten States

Curriculum Programs

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

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

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

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

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

Biomedical Sciences Program

Foundation Courses • Principles of the Biomedical Sciences • Human Body Systems • Medical Interventions

Capstone Course • Biomedical Innovation

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

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

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

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

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)

Assessments

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

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.

Common Core Standard Alignment

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.

High School 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

Benefits of Certification

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.

The Process

• 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

Preparing for the Visit

• 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

Certification Outcomes

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

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?

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

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.

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.

College Level Recognition

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

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

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

Diversity

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

74% of girls say they have an interest in STEM BUT, only 13% say they would pursue a career in STEM.

Women comprise 48% of the US workforce but just 24% of STEM workers. – NCES “The Nation’s Report Card Science 2009”

Fewer than 15% of American engineers are women. – National Math and Science Initiative Website

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

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.

Partnerships

55

Strategic Business and Philanthropic Partners

FOUNDATIONS EDUCATION INITIATIVES SPONSORSHIPS BUSINESS

PARTNERS

IGNITING IMAGINATION AND INNOVATION THROUGH LEARNING

www.pltw.org

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