Forging new generations of engineers
PLTW is
a 501 (c)(3)
not-for-profit
corporation
The primary goal
of PLTW is to
grow the nation’s
technology
workforce.
The Problem
There are currently 1,300,000
engineering/engineering
technology jobs available in
the U.S. without trained
people to fill them.
WORKFORCE 1960
20%
Skilled
Professional
Unskilled
60%
20%
WORKFORCE 2000
15%
Skilled
Professiona
20%
Unskilled
65%
What does the
pipeline of engineers
and technicians look
like?
80,000
70,000
ALL ENGINEERING
60,000
50,000
ELECTRICAL/
COMPUTER
40,000
MECHANICAL/
AEROSPACE
30,000
CIVIL/
ENVIRONMENTAL
20,000
OTHER
ENGINEERING
10,000
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
0
1988
Disciplines
# of Bachelor's Degrees Engineering
Engineering Degrees Awarded 1988-2002
SOURCE: American Association of Engineering Societies
(2001)
© PLTW 2002
Engineering Technology Bachelor’s Degrees
Awarded in 2000 by Population Groups
Source: American Association of Engineering Societies (1-01)
7,000
6,094
Men
6,000
Women
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
588
561
161
450
361
59
0
Non-Minority
African
Hispanic
58
6
Native
63
Asian
293
64
Foreign
National
© PLTW 2001
Engineering and Engineering Technology
-Two Different Career Paths-
Manufacturing
Test and Evaluation
Development
Routine Design
Complex Design
Production
Operation, Service,
And Maintenance
Complex Analysis
Four Year College
Program
Two and Four Year
College Program
Distribution and
Sales
Research
Source: American Society for Mechanical Engineers
© Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Schools must
 Increase student achievement
 Increase graduation rates
 Prepare students for further study
 Meet the needs of the community
The Solution is to…
Make a small change in the culture
of American high schools by:
 Strengthening the core academic curricula.
 Adding a rigorous, technical program of
study in pre-engineering leading to 2 & 4
year postsecondary degrees.
Studies from HSTW and Making
School Work conclude that….
Student achievement rises even more
when students are required a
challenging academic core and a
rigorous academic or career/technical
concentration of at least four credits.
Student Performance in Reading,
Mathematics and Science
330
Reading
320
Math
310
Science
300
290
280
270
260
250
240
No Major/No C
Prep
Coll Prep only
Major/C Prep
PLTW
How are PLTW students
doing - compared to other
Career/Technical students at
High Schools That Work
(HSTW) schools?
Student Performance in Reading,
Mathematics and Science
by Type of Program
PL
TW
H
ea
lth
m
un
ic
at
io
ns
El
ec
D
tro
ra
fti
ni
ng
cs
&
D
es
ig
n
C
om
n
or
ta
tio
FC
S
an
sp
Tr
ar
k
Bu
s/
M
Ag
330
320
310
300
290
280
270
260
250
240
Reading
Math
Science
PLTW Student Performance
Compared to HSTW Goals
330
313
315
HSTW Goal
310
297
290
299
291
279
270
250
Reading
Math
Science
PLTW
Students
How does PLTW
facilitate this
change?
PLTW Courses
Middle School Program
Gateway To Technology







Design and Modeling (9 wks)
The Magic of Electrons (9 wks)
The Science of Technology (9 wks)
Automation and Robotics (9 wks)
**Environmental Engineering (9 wks)
**Energy and the Environment (9 wks)
**Aerospace Technology (9 wks) NASA
**in development
High School Course Program
Foundation:
Principles Of Engineering
Introduction to Engineering Design
Digital Electronics
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Specialization:
and/or
and/or
and/or
Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Civil Engineering and Architecture
Bio-technical Engineering (in development)
Aerospace Technology(in development)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capstone:
Engineering Design and Development
Note: Course program requires college prep mathematics each year.
How will the PLTW
curriculum challenge
students to meet
higher academic
standards ?
The curriculum is:
“Standards Based”
 National Academy of Sciences
 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
 International Technology Education Association
 English Language Arts
Beverage Container Design Problem
Design a beverage container that will hold 12.5 fluid
ounces,  .25 oz. Prior to using the computer, sketch the
top and front view using the correct dimensions to acquire
the required volume. Show all your math calculations.
Using the computer design tool, apply good design criteria
of function and aesthetic value to solve this problem.
(The formula used will depend on the shape of the interior
volume and the students’ math ability.)
Cylindrical Volume Layout
Axis of
Revolution
H
Profile to
Revolve
R
Hint
2
V=r H
Truncated Cone Volume Solution
1. Assign a value to RAB
2. Assign a value to HAB
3. Find the volume of cone(AB) VAB
4. In the front view, sketch the
profile of the container using the
above assigned values.
5. Use the dimension function to
find the length of RB
6. Find the volume of cone (B) VB
7. Plug the values of VAB and VB into
the formula VA= VAB - VB. This will
give the volume of the truncated
cone (A).
*Note: If you move the position of RB up
or down, it will change the volume of the
truncated cone (A).
Parabolic Container Solution
This is the kind of
student work that
helps students reach
higher standards in the
academic core.
Exposure to Real
Engineering
 The PLTW classes are modeled after
introductory engineering courses
taught at the university level.
 Students gain first hand experience in
different facets of engineering and
discover where their strengths lie.
How do we help teachers
to teach at this level ?
To change old habits
through …
Comprehensive
Professional
Development
The Teacher as Facilitator
 Helps students define problems and set
timelines.
 Helps students become leaders, team
members, and problem solvers.
 Acts as a resource.
 Is not expected to know the answers.
3 Phase Teacher Training
SelfAssessment
and PreCore
Training
Ready for core
training
© PLTW 2003
3 Phase Teacher Training
SelfAssessment
and PreCore
Training
Core Training
Summer Institute
• Gateway To Technology (Middle School)
• Principles Of Engineering
• Introduction To Engineering Design
• Digital Electronics
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Civil Engineering/Architecture
• Engineering Design and Development
Ready for core
training
© PLTW 2003
3 Phase Teacher Training
SelfAssessment
and PreCore
Training
Core Training
Summer Institute
• Gateway To Technology (Middle School)
Continuous
Training
• Principles Of Engineering
• Introduction To Engineering Design
• Digital Electronics
• Computer Integrated Manufacturing
• Civil Engineering/Architecture
• Engineering Design and Development
Ready for core
training
Master
Teacher
Ready for teaching
© PLTW 2003
How much does the
Summer Institute Cost ?
The cost of the Summer Institute
varies at each site due to the different
means of support. Go to the PLTW
website for cost at each specific
training site.
Graduate College Credit
Teachers have the option of
earning 6 graduate credits for
each PLTW course training
session they attend.
Teachers
are not the only staff
members who benefit from
PLTW’s
Comprehensive
Professional
Development
program.
School Counselors’ Conference
--- For Middle & High School Counselors --
Conference dates and times are
posted on the PLTW website in the
Counselor’s section.
www.pltw.org
Why is it critical to
work with Guidance
Departments?
Guidance Practices Increase
Achievement when
 Students are encouraged to take
challenging mathematics and science
courses.
 Students are assisted by the end of
grade nine in planning a program of
study.
 Parents are involved.
 Students are provided information on
postsecondary education and
employment.
Strong Guidance and Higher
Achievement
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Reading
Intensive (10%)
Mathematics
Moderate (70%)
Science
Little (20%)
Who should take
PLTW courses?
The Student who is:
 In the top 80% of his/her class.
 Good in mathematics and science.
 Interested in being an engineer or technologist.
 Good in art and design.
 Interested in computers.
 An underachiever who might get “hooked” by a

high tech – hands on class.
A struggling student who learns best by “doing.”
The Student who is:
Willing to work hard!!!
A Rigorous Pre-engineering
Curriculum
+
Highly prepared Faculty
=
Opportunities for Students
PLTW meets its mission by
supporting schools with:









A Fully-developed Curriculum for HS & MS
Extensive Professional Development for Teachers
Professional Development Conferences for School Counselors
Affordability Through an Optional National Bid
Partnerships with State Education Departments
4 & 2-year College Course Credit
A Certification Process
Systematic Evaluation
Continuous Improvement (Curriculum & Professional Development)
School District Agreement with PLTW
•
Implement entire 5 unit, PLTW high school course
curriculum (over 4 years or less)
--- and/or --Implement Gateway To Technology (over 3 years or
less)
Identify and support teachers who will participate
in the 3-phase professional development program
Identify & support school counselor in the conference
•
•
•
School District Agreement with PLTW
•
•
•
•
•
•
Provide each teacher with laptop and software
meeting PLTW specifications
Provide and equip laboratory space meeting or
exceeding PLTW specifications (over 4 years)
Agree to become College Certified within two years
Operate a teacher led community partnership team
Participate in the systematic evaluation of PLTW
Commit to continuous improvement
End of Course Exam
 All PLTW classes have a
recognized national standard that
is enforced by the end of course
exam.
 This makes a transcript with
PLTW courses on it attractive to
Universities.
High School Program
Transcripted College Credit through RIT



Principles Of Engineering (New)
Introduction to Engineering Design
Digital Electronics

Computer Integrated Manufacturing
College credit for high school students
•
•
•
•
•
Eligible courses: POE, IED, DE, CIM
Students earn an 85% course average from the high
school teacher
Students pass RIT college credit exam with:
A, 90-100%
B, 80-89%
C, 70-79%
Students register for 4 RIT credit/course--$200/course
RIT sends grade report and maintains transcript with
the grade on the RIT exam
Grades for 674 Students
300
297
250
236
200
150
Exam Takers
141
Registered for
Credit
100
50
0
A
B
C
PLTW Results
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
 2003-04
13 schools 37 schools 98 schools 168 schools 282 schools 502 schools 640 schools -
1,138 students
4,652 students
14,156 students
23,000 students
35,000 students
55,000 students
65,612 students
-- States Participating in PLTW --
Visit Our Website
www.pltw.org