UW-Platteville's Department of Industrial Studies accredited by Project Lead the Way
PLATTEVILLE- Students at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville will soon have the opportunity to be trained and certified as Project Lead the Way teachers. PLTW is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curriculum designed to increase the science, technology, engineering and math abilities of high school and middle school students. PLTW, which originated in New York, is now found in all 50 states.
"I feel we have a good alignment. We have lined this up very well and I am confident it will be successful," said Frank Steck, professor of technology education at UWP.
In 2007, there were 131 Wisconsin middle and high schools teaching one or more PLTW courses. Another 26 schools have committed to implement PLTW coursed in the 2008 to 2009 school year. PLTW's purpose is to infuse rigor and relevance, giving middle and high school students the knowledge necessary to pursue science, technology, engineering and math programs in college. Middle and high school students may even earn industrial technology education or engineering college credits by taking certain PLTW courses. To qualify for college credit, the student must pass the course, pass a comprehensive final exam and submit a portfolio. UWP programs in industrial studies and engineering are planning to give college credit to students who meet these requirements.
"PLTW will improve job opportunities for high school students and give them a leg up when they go to a university accredited by PLTW because the students can transfer their credits to college," said Carol Sue Butts, vice chancellor and provost for UWP.
In order to be accredited by PLTW, school districts must agree to a strict set of requirements such as having computers with the necessary software, providing training for their teachers at a PLTW affiliate and having an advisory board of local business, engineering and technology professionals. Many PLTW courses require students to visit engineering and technology companies.
"We are pulling these professionals into the schools to help the education program. It's a win-win situation," said Steck.
Since PLTW is a non-profit organization, the course material is provided at no charge, schools only pay for training of faculty, equipment and software.
UWP is currently in the process of aligning the PLTW courses and the technology education courses. Upon completion of the specific courses, student teaching at a PLTW school and passing the appropriate PLTW tests, UWP technology education majors will be eligible to teach at any PLTW school.
According to Steck, the program is anticipated to be up and running by fall 2009. UWP is the second university to partner with PLTW, making Wisconsin the first state with two institutions partnering with PLTW. UWP is also the 11th teacher education program in the country to partner with PLTW.
"This suggests an advantage for Wisconsin. I can see a day when Wisconsin will be exporting technology education teachers to states. We are demonstrating that we are keeping up to date with our teaching program,"said Steck.
Anyone wanting more information about UWP's PLTW accreditation may contact Steck at (608) 342-1532 or steck@uwplatt.edu.
Contact: Frank Steck, professor, technology education, (608) 342-1532, steck@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu
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