PROMOTION STRATEGIES OF PLTW for your DISTRICT
PROMOTING PLTW TO ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
 Incorporate fun engineering activities within math and science instruction.
For ideas go to: Engineering Education Service Center (EESC) links to
Engineering/Tech Universities, Scholarships, Resources
www.engineeringedu.com
 Show movie “Engineers Can Do Anything” to be exposed to all types of engineering fields.
http://www.engineeringedu.com/store/dvds.html
 Use engineering stories in ELA/Social Studies lessons
 Help students be aware that different people in their units are engineers – ex. Alexander
Graham Bell
 Create Stations with different engineering activities
 Play age appropriate games that support engineering concepts, ideas, etc..
 Regular vocabulary in classrooms that surround engineering
 Conduct Games that are about Engineer careers
 During units that include engineering work – show or point out that it is engineering ex:
during electricity and circuit work
ORIENTATION/PROMOTION OF STEM ACTIVITIES:
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Incorporate the show “Design Squad” into Science class
Show clips from www.engineeryourlife.org to highlight different fields of engineering.
Show movie “Engineers Can Do Anything” to be exposed to all types of engineering fields.
http://www.engineeringedu.com/store/dvds.html
Service project created with Technology, Math and Science in mind
Support a strong foundation in Math for all students
Support female students choices towards Science and Math
Share with students summer camp opportunities. Go to:
http://www.engineeringedu.com/summercamps.html
CREATION OF CLUBS AND COMPETITIONS:
 Organize After School Clubs – Robotics
 Science Fair/Tech Fair
 Promote building different structures with Legos, Kinex, Link & Logs – have competitions and
use products for projects throughout the year
 Promote and organize Young Science Olympiad teams
 Encourage participation in science fairs
DEMONSTRATIONS:
 Engineers come into elementary schools after school to do fun and age appropriate
activities. Have students solve a problem and work in teams. Have both men and women
engineers participate.
 Organize mentor opportunities with Engineers in the field
 Show programs explaining engineering; myth busters
 Career Days – bring in engineers to help with presentations
 Engineering Week is in February. Seek out local activities.
 “Show and tell” with parents that are engineers
Items generated from PLTW Counselor Conference at RIT- November 2007 and December 2008
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PROMOTION STRATEGIES OF PLTW for your DISTRICT
VISITATIONS:
 Have PLTW ® students go into classrooms to conduct interactive activities, share their
designs, and provide information about what they are learning.
 Older elementary students visit classrooms in HS/MS
 Expose students to engineering careers by visiting different engineers in their place of
employment. Focus on all types of engineering.
PROMOTING PLTW® TO MIDDLE SCHOOL & HS STUDENTS
PLTW® INFORMATION SHARING:
 Put PLTW® classes in curriculum guide
 Promote during individual scheduling
 Promote during large group scheduling
 Put PLTW® information on school website
 Technology teachers share PLTW® brochures with potential students
CREATION OF CLUBS AND COMPETITIONS:
 Provide a Robotic and/or Technology club for students
 Coordinate an engineering summer camp for elementary students
 Provide students with information on math, science, technology, engineering competitions
DEMONSTRATIONS:
 Have High School Students share information and demonstrate projects about the
coursework to Middle School Students
 Conduct classroom presentations and interactive activities on PLTW® activities
 Conduct lunchtime demonstrations and displays around building
 Have High School Students conduct interactive activities in the elementary classrooms
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
 Have Technology Teachers team up with math and science teacher for instruction
VISITATIONS:
 Elementary students visit Gateway To Technology® classes and Middle School Students
visit High School PLTW® classes
 Field trips to colleges that have engineering or companies that have engineering
ORIENTATION/PROMOTION ACTIVITIES:
 Bring in guest speakers on careers in math, science, engineering, and technology
 Highlight design, engineering, and careers- connections from TV shows and movies
 Have an 8th grade parent night or curriculum to share PLTW® coursework and activities to
students and parents
 Provide a Girls Reception for engineering coursework- check on PLTW® Website for
complete packet or go to http://www.napequity.org/page.php?17 to download complete
packet
Items generated from PLTW Counselor Conference at RIT- November 2007 and December 2008
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PROMOTION STRATEGIES OF PLTW for your DISTRICT
On Career Day, have an engineer and/or engineering technologist talk about the
components of their career, their career path, and indicate skills needed.
Have PLTW® alumni come back to school to how their PLTW® courses helped them to make
decisions on coursework at the college level.
Electives Fair for Students and Parents: Have demonstrations from Robotics Team, Legos
Club, and hands-on experiences
Use public access TV to promote program
Promote specific program to encourage more girls to participate in program
Mentor group with college students
Show free DVD and share brochures which describe Project Lead The Way® Coursework.
Available by going to: http://www.pltw.org/Engineering/Request-Materials/RequestMaterials.cfm
PROMOTING PLTW TO PARENTS
PLTW INFORMATION SHARING:
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Put description of PLTW coursework on school website
Put description of PLTW coursework in curriculum guide
Add information to the parent/district newsletter
Share information during new student orientation
Highlight PLTW activities and curriculum during a PTO meeting
Provide promotional brochures to parents
Staff member provides opportunity for parents to obtain answers to questions by phone or
email
 Highlight the career path to math, science, engineering and technology careers
DEMONSTRATIONS:
 Have demonstrations during Open House
 Have students present the program to parents
 Conduct a project fair in gym on voting night where students demonstrate and answer
questions
 Invite interested senior citizens to view classes
 Presentations in community centers, malls, and libraries with student demonstrations
ORIENTATION/PROMOTION ACTIVITIES:
 Have an 8th grade parent night or curriculum to share PLTW coursework and activities to
students and parents
 Electives Fair for parents and students:
 Have Career night that also reviews classes that provides information on dual credit courses
 Share clips from PLTW DVD that describes the program
 Bring media (television and newspaper) to school for special story on students involved in
program
 Highlight the college credit option
Items generated from PLTW Counselor Conference at RIT- November 2007 and December 2008
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PROMOTION STRATEGIES OF PLTW for your DISTRICT
PROMOTING PLTW TO COMMUNITY
PLTW INFORMATION SHARING:
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Highlight the program in the school or local newspaper
Highlight program on school website
Add to agenda of Diversity Task Force
Share program goals with Rotary or Lions Club
Share information with Jr. Achievement program
DEMONSTRATIONS:
 Conduct a demonstration at a Board Meeting (with students) or invite BOE members to the
PLTW classrooms.
 Highlight PLTW activities and curriculum during a PTO meeting
 Invite local key business contacts in the school for student demonstrations
 Have displays set up at sporting events
 Go to trade shows to demonstrate curriculum activities
 Market items that are created
VISITATIONS AND CONNECTIONS FROM INDUSTRY:
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Create opportunities for community members to volunteer in PLTW classes
Seek out internships or job shadowing in local businesses for students
Bring local business people in to speak about job opportunities
Share clips from PLTW DVD that describes the program
ENGINEERING WEBSITES OF INTEREST
American Society of Engineering
Education (ASEE)
Discover Engineering
Engineering Education Service
Center (EESC) links to
Engineering/Tech Universities,
Scholarships, Resources
Engineer Your Life
Junior Engineering Technical Society
(JETS)- Info on engineering careers
Sightseer’s Guide to Engineering
http://www.engineeringk12.org/
The Society of Women Engineers
www.swe.org
Women in Engineering Proactive
Network (WEPAN)
Design and Discovery
http://www.wepan.org/
Youth Exploring Science
http://www.discoverengineering.org
www.engineeringedu.com
www.EngineerYourLife.org
www.jets.org
http://www.engineeringsights.org/
http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/education/
camp.shtml
http://www.youthexploringscience.org/
Items generated from PLTW Counselor Conference at RIT- November 2007 and December 2008
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