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