How To Use The PLTW ® Curricula Presented By Sam Cox April 23 rd, 2009 STI Prep New Instructor Orientation

2 Goal of Presentation To demonstrate the features of the curriculum in order to aid your preparation for its effective implementation in your classroom.

Presentation Overview Traditional curriculum vs. Project Lead The Way ® curriculum Curriculum structure Lesson structure Helpful hints to relay to participants New and enhanced curriculum features

4 Project Lead the Way ® curricula different? What makes

Traditional Curricula Some are based on textbooks that come with support materials Usually designed around activities or exams Obsolescence goes unchecked or unfixed No standard definition

Project Lead The Way® Curricula Curriculum framework is based on national standards, concepts, performance objectives, essential questions, and assessments of learning. Lessons utilize activity-, project-, and problem-based learning (AP 2 ).

Curriculum based on research How People Learn by the National Research Council National Standards Understanding by Design by the Wiggins & McTighe Achieving Rigor & Relevance Through Project-Based Learning by the Daggett & Blais ABET, Inc. Accreditation Criteria

Represents a complete package, which allows the instructor to focus on teaching, student achievement, assessment, and professional development. Project Lead The Way ® Curricula

AP 2 – Activities, Projects, & Problems From: Activities – Project – Problem-Based Learning by PLTW Helps students develop skills for living in a knowledge-based, technological society Adds relevance to the learning Challenges students to high rigor Promotes lifelong learning Meets the needs of students with varying learning styles Activity-, Project-, and Problem-Based Learning (APPB) as used in the PLTW ® curricula:

10 What is the difference between Activities, Projects, and Problems?

AP 2 – Activities and Projects Activities: build skills and knowledge The outcome is predictable Projects: hone skills in teamwork, mathematics, science, software, time management, and communication Several constraints to follow Outcomes may differ

AP 2 – Problems Students doing authentic real-world work. Learning is contextual, not disjointed series of concepts. Students work in teams. Expectations are clearly articulated to students. Problems have unpredictable results

Example from PLTW™ POE curriculum May be word- problems, software exercises or tutorials, experiments, reading assignments, etc. AP 2 - Activities

Example from PLTW™ PBS curriculum Used as class work or homework Designed to build skills and knowledge through directed exercises AP 2 - Activities

AP 2 - Projects More rigorous and open- ended than activities Utilize prescribed problem statements, goals, and constraints Require the application of skills and knowledge Example from PLTW™ CEA curriculum

AP 2 - Projects Have outcomes that fall within a predictable range, but are still diverse and creative May be long-term Usually involve student teams Example from PLTW™ PBS curriculum

Example from PLTW™ AE curriculum AP 2 - Problems Intelligent Vehicle Design Usually instigated by a question, a theme, or a need. Students determine their own criteria. Students design and build an intelligent vehicle for the planet of their choice.

Curriculum Structure Title Page Acknowledgements Introduction Course Description Teacher Guidelines Units with Lessons Glossary Example from the PLTW™ PBS curriculum

Curriculum Structure: Example from the PLTW™ PBS curriculum Course Description Description Overview Outline

Curriculum Structure: Example from the PLTW™ PBS curriculum Teacher Guidelines Generic Assessment National Standards Support Materials Teacher Notes Rubrics Answer Keys or Samples Student Support Documents Website Master List

Curriculum Structure: Standards Example from the PLTW ® CEA curriculum Analysis of the connections between the student work included in the various units and the national standards can be found in the matrices.

Lesson Structure Preface Concepts Standards Alignment Performance Objectives Assessment Essential Questions Key Terms Day-by-Day Activities Instructional Resources

Written for the teacher, and may be used to develop an introductory set. Explains the significance of the lesson and how it applies to previous and future learning. Lesson Structure: Preface Example taken from the PLTW ® CEA curriculum

Concepts are the principles, theories, and recurring themes important to a student’s understanding of a course of study. Concepts help students to understand the “why” that supports what they are learning. Lesson Structure: Concepts Example from the PLTW ® CEA curriculum

Lesson Structure: Standards Example from the PLTW ® CEA curriculum The national Technology, Science, Mathematics, and English standards that are directly aligned with the lesson concepts are clearly identified in the Engineering courses.

Lesson Structure: Standards Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum The national Science, Mathematics, Healthcare, English, and Technology standards that are directly aligned with the lesson concepts are clearly identified in the Biomedical Sciences courses.

Lesson Structure: Performance Objectives The knowledge and skills the learner should gain and display upon completion of the lesson and its related activities are identified in the Performance Objectives. Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum

Explanation Interpretation Application Perspective Empathy Self-Knowledge Lesson Structure: Assessment Six facets of understanding:

Lesson Structure: Lead to student understanding of the Key Concepts. Examining and arguing these questions help students to think like experts. Essential Questions Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum

Vocabulary that students will need to know in order to understand the lesson concepts and to communicate effectively. Lesson Structure: Key Terms Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum

A logical sequence of teacher and student activities that support the teaching and learning of the lesson material. It also provides links to activities, projects, problems, handouts, presentations, tutorials, and other lesson resources. Lesson Structure: Day-by-Day Example from the PLTW ® IED curriculum

Lesson Structure: Instructional Resources Example from the PLTW ® CEA curriculum Presentations Activities/Projects/Problems Tests Answer Keys Teacher Guidelines Reference Sources A complete list of all the associated lesson resources and may include:

Curriculum Structure: Glossary Includes Key Terms and other vocabulary appropriate for the course. Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum

Course Revision Process Three year process MT and AP brainstorming and kernel development Curriculum writing Field test Released to the network

35 What is new or enhanced?

Curriculum Structure: Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum Teacher Guidelines Simplified Table of Contents All teacher resources in one folder A single master document with links to all resources

Curriculum Structure: Teacher Guidelines Assessment tools National Standards Curriculum Implementation Answer Keys and Rubrics Teacher Notes

Lesson Structure: Crossword Puzzles Help students learn the Key Terms. Can be used as formative assessments. Example from the PLTW ® DE curriculum

New format for listing the key words and definitions. Lesson Structure: Key Terms Example from the PLTW ® PBS curriculum

Delmar Cengage Learning Producing Textbooks to support courses IEDJune 2008 CIMFebruary 2009 GTTFebruary 2009 POEFebruary 2011 DEJune 2010 CEAFebruary2010 EDDFebruary2011

41 Please visit the Project Lead The Way ® website and Virtual Academy.