Charles W. Davidson College

of Engineering

How to Connect Students to PLTW

• Presenter: Randy A. Kilmartin w/ Beth Traub (PLTW Teacher)– (RK) 17 years experience as a math teacher and school

counselor– (BT) 10 teachers teaching math, 6 years in FIRST and Vex

Robotics, 5 in PLTW.– Bechtel Research Fellowship published in the Journal of

Transformational Leadership and Policy Studies (CSU Sacramento) entitled:

Factors Promoting Inclusion and Success for Underrepresented High School Students in STEM

-Randy A. Kilmartin and Katrina K. Pimentel

How to Connect Students to PLTW

• Superintendent and Central Office Staff needs to be supportive– Provide resources (laptops/tablets), money

(training staff), and IT network support

• Site level Administrative support– IT on site/available to teachers– Room allocation, furniture–Master scheduling input and flexibility

How to Connect Students to PLTW

• PLTW/STEM meeting each quarter– Teachers, Counselors, Admin, DO, IT– Set priorities, scheduling– Course offerings, field trips,

pathway/sequencing– Prereqs and coreqs

• Write up course descriptions to be reviewed for Secondary Ed./BOE approval

How to Connect Students to PLTW• High School Fairs at Middle Schools

– Talk to parents, students, teachers, admin– Bring manipulatives, slide show, business cards

• Local VEX/FIRST Competitions– Attend/Participate/Volunteer– Talk to parents, students, teachers, staff, admin

• Provide an afterschool Robotics Club– Talk to parents (volunteers), students, faculty– Consistent dates/times– Club develop into class if possible

• PLTW Curriculum and courses – Admin, Counselors, Teachers, School Staff informed– Talk to students early and often (Elem/MS/HS)

How to Connect Students to PLTW• All PLTW Courses are A-G approved. (PLTW does this

for you!)

– IED-> ‘F” requirement– EDD->“D” requirement (per district/CTE

credential)– All others satisfy “G” requirement

• Articulation with Community Colleges– IED = Drafting 45/50 @ Solano CC– DE = Drafting 75 (Electronic Drafting)/Electronics

• KNOW YOUR STUDENTS!!!

Example of possible 4 year pathwayCourse 9th 10th 11th 12th

Math Math 1 Math 2 Math 3 Pre-Calc or ↑

Science Biology (H) ConcPhys (H) Chemistry (H/AP)

Physics (AP)

PLTW IED POE DE CSSE

Questions?