PLTW: One state's perspective

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

10-25-2004

Abstract

Despite today's growth in the age of knowledge, information and technology, the enrollment and conferring of undergraduate degrees in engineering and engineering technology continues to fall short of the nation's demands. In the state of New Jersey, from 1998-2002, only ∼5.3% of the degrees awarded were in engineering and engineering technology (NJ Commission on Higher Education, 2003). In 2002, New Jersey Institute of Technology became the sixth university affiliate of a national pre-engineering program called Project Lead The Way® (PLTW), as one strategy to increase the pool of New Jersey secondary school students interested and prepared to enroll, and graduate from post-secondary, undergraduate engineering-related programs. PLTW trains secondary school teachers to implement one middle school and six high school yearlong courses. This paper presents a state's perspective on the impact of the skills development and implementation of PLTW on secondary school educators, students and guidance counselors throughout New Jersey over the past four and a half years. Currently, 78 teachers in New Jersey have been trained to implement this program in 7 middle schools and 20 high schools represented by 21 public school districts. The institutionalization of this pre-engineering program across a profile of different high school environments is examined. We explore the similarities and differences of implementation within a "magnet" high school and a comprehensive school. Perspectives of both teachers and students are included.

Identifier

5444271869 (Scopus)

Publication Title

ASEE Annual Conference Proceedings

ISSN

01901052

First Page

11107

Last Page

11111

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