Engineering:
Document 8: Site Visit Guide
District Name:
Name of Campus/School:
Campus/School Street
City
Address
Name of Person Completing this Report:
State
Zip Code:
Affiliation/Title:
I. Program Implementation
A.
Instruction (required)
Yes
1.
The current version of curriculum is being used.
2.
Teacher shared evidence of accessing end-of-course assessments.
B.
No
Usually
Student Portfolios (required)
1.
C.
Student portfolios and engineering notebooks meet or exceed PLTW
requirements (see Document #3).
Software (required)
1.
Current software revisions are being used for all PLTW courses (see
Document #4).
2.
Software lease agreement is current (copy available at site visit).
D.
Facility and Equipment (required)
1.
E.
There is adequate space and equipment to teach the PLTW courses
offered. (See Document #3).
Teacher Qualification
1.
Evidence of some thoughtful selection criteria was used to identify
and recruit teachers for the PLTW courses.
2.
There is evidence of teacher “buy-in” of the PLTW program.
I. Notes or comments:
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2012-Updated 9/18/12
Pathway to Engineering: Document 8: Site Visit Guide – Page 1
II. Professional Development
A.
Counselors (required)
1.
At least one on site counselor has attended a PLTW Conference.
2.
Counselors have accessed the PLTW or state affiliate website for
college and program information.
B.
Yes
No
Usually
Yes
No
Usually
Teachers (required)
1.
Evidence of successful completion of a Core Training Session for
each course taught.
2.
Evidence of participation in the Virtual Academy.
3.
Evidence of attending course update training (Core Training Session
or Virtual Academy) if training was more than five years ago.
C.
Administration
1.
At least one school level administrator has attended a PLTW
conference.
II. Notes/comments:
III. Partnership Team
A.
Membership (required)
1.
Includes members from business/industry.
2.
Membership is diverse in terms of industry and education roles.
3.
Interview was conducted with at least one member.
B.
Frequency (required)
1.
Agendas from at least two previous meetings.
2.
Calendar or dates of next two meetings.
C.
Minutes (required)
1.
D.
Minutes from the two most recent meetings were available.
Administrative Support
1.
Site and district level administrators and counselors are actively
engaged with the partnership team.
III. Notes/comments:
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2012-Updated 9/18/12
Pathway to Engineering: Document 8: Site Visit Guide – Page 2
IV. Students
A.
Diversity
Yes
1.
PLTW program enrollment reflects school diversity.
2.
School has strategy for improving diversity if needed.
B.
No
Usually
Equity
1.
Percent of females enrolled in PLTW classes.
2.
School has strategy for increasing female enrollment if needed.
C.
%
Selection and Recruitment
1.
D.
School has policy/plans which allow all students access to PLTW
courses.
Concurrent Mathematics (required)
1.
Students interviewed are enrolled in college preparatory
mathematics.
2.
Counselors interviewed understand mathematics requirements.
E.
Retention
1.
F.
Retention rates are adequate to sustain higher level courses (see
Document #2).
Matriculation
1.
Students interviewed had a four year plan of study or knew which
academic and PLTW courses they needed to graduate and be
prepared for post secondary study.
2.
Students interviewed were aware of state and local universities and
colleges that offered programs in engineering or engineering
technology.
IV. Notes/comments:
V. Student Assessment
A.
B.
End of Course Assessment (required)
1.
Verify that teachers are properly rostering students and administering
the end-of-course exam at the conclusion of each PLTW course.
2.
Inspect student final exam grade report summary to see if there is a
normal distribution of grades.
Yes
No
Usually
Data Collection (required)
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2012-Updated 9/18/12
Pathway to Engineering: Document 8: Site Visit Guide – Page 3
1.
Evidence was given to verify that teachers and students are
participating in PLTW end-of-course assessments.
V. Notes/comments:
VI. Administrative Support
A.
Facility and Equipment (required)
1.
Verify that teachers have laptops that meet or exceed PLTW
specifications.
2.
Adequate classroom/laboratory space is provided for students to
participate in the PLTW curriculum.
B.
Yes
No
Usually
Yes
No
Usually
Funding and Budget
1.
Site Level Support: Teachers receive adequate support for the PLTW
program, including but not limited to release time and budget
allocation (based upon teacher interviews).
2.
District Level Support: Teachers receive adequate support for their
PLTW program, including but not limited to release time and budget
allocation (based upon teacher interviews).
3.
Sustainability plan is in place to ensure program longevity.
VI. Notes/comments:
VII. Post Secondary
A.
Student Plans of Study
1.
B.
A system is in place to help each student develop a program of study
which extends beyond high school. (Based on interviews with
students, counselors and teachers.)
Local and State Articulation
1.
Counselors, teachers and students are aware of the articulation
agreements between the school and local/state post secondary
institutions.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2012-Updated 9/18/12
Pathway to Engineering: Document 8: Site Visit Guide – Page 4
VII. Notes/comments:
VIII. Communication & Outreach
A.
Awareness
Yes
1.
School counselors have made students and parents aware of the
program.
2.
The partnership team has made the community aware of the
program.
3.
Teachers have made the community aware of the program.
4.
Administrators have made the community aware of the program.
B.
No
Usually
Recruitment
1.
There is a system in place to identify, encourage, and recruit a
diverse group of students.
2.
Teachers and counselors work together to build enrollment.
3.
Site and district level administration supports the work done to recruit
students.
C.
Celebration
1.
Student and program successes are being celebrated and recognized
within the school.
2.
Student and program successes are being celebrated and recognized
outside the school. (example – newspaper articles)
VIII. Notes/comments:
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2012-Updated 9/18/12
Pathway to Engineering: Document 8: Site Visit Guide – Page 5