Project Lead the Way
“Project Lead the Way” is a Pre-Engineering program for secondary-aged students grades 10-12 developed over a three year sequence of courses which, when combined with college preparatory mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college.
The courses offered at the Franklin County Career and
- Introduction to Engineering Design
- Digital Electronics
- Principles of Engineering
- Computer Integrated Manufacturing
- Engineering Design and Development
Introduction at this level will attract more students to engineering, and will allow students, while still in high school, to determine if engineering is the career they desire. Students participating in PLTW courses are better prepared for college engineering programs and more likely to be successful, thus reducing the attrition rate in these college programs, which currently exceeds 50% nationally.
A critical component of the Project Lead The Way program is its comprehensive teacher training model. The curriculum these teachers are required to teach utilizes cutting edge technology and software requiring specialized training. Ongoing training supports the teachers as they implement the program and provides for continuous improvement of skills.
Understanding that another key to success is awareness, PLTW makes a concerted effort to inform school counselors through counselor conferences, brochures and videotapes about the benefits of the program, as well as the wide array of technology jobs and careers available to students who enter the field upon graduation from high school and college.
Students completing the PLTW curriculum will have an opportunity to receive post-secondary credit for their coursework while still in high school. The National Affiliate/PLTW Exemplary Student Recognition program will provide an opportunity for students in an National Affiliate/PLTW certified school who have excelled in selected PLTW courses to receive transcripted, college credit for Principles of Engineering, Introduction to Engineering Design, Digital Electronics, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Please refer to the Project Lead the Way website (www.pltw.org) for further details.