Strategies That Work: Ways to Grow Your PLTW Program Ashley Gregory Jennifer Strathman

Ritenour High School Located in St. Louis, Missouri Approximately 2000 Students 63% Free and Reduced Lunch 46.2% White 41.2% Black 9.6% Hispanic

PLTW Gateway to Technology Foundation Courses Automation and Robotics* Design and Modeling* Specialization Courses Energy and the Environment* Flight and Space* Green Architecture* Magic of Electrons* Science of Technology* * Currently Offered + Offered Beginning ^ Offered via STLCC

PLTW Pathway to Engineering Foundation Courses Introduction to Engineering Design* Principles of Engineering* Specialization Courses Digital Electronics* Aerospace Engineering* Civil Engineering and Architecture* Biotechnical Engineering*+ Computer Integrated Manufacturing^ Capstone Course Engineering Design and Development* * Currently Offered + Offered Beginning ^ Offered via STLCC

Implementation: Challenges Administrative Turnover Began with Principles of Engineering Course 1 st Group of PLTW Students were mostly Seniors Communication Barriers between Administrators, Counselors, Teachers, Students and Parents Involvement of Partnership Team

Overcoming the Challenges Administrators focused on building- wide support for PLTW Motivated PLTW instructors Well-informed counselors Opening lines of communication amongst ALL stakeholders

Background in math, science or technology or has shown interest in becoming involved with the PLTW program Proven the ability to develop a strong rapport with his or her students Willing to commit to organizing and facilitating Partnership Team meetings Willing to work closely with or sponsor the TSA Willing to work to promote the program to the community, middle school students and current high school students Overcoming the Challenges: Recruiting the Right Instructors for PLTW

Invited 2 counselors to serve on PLTW Partnership Team All counselors have been to PLTW Counselor and Administrator Workshops Open lines of communication – inform counselors of program and content requirements Concurrent enrollment in upper- level mathematics class(es) Scheduling to meet PLTW student needs Overcoming the Challenges: Informing RHS Counselors

Involves all stakeholders of PLTW Program (teachers, students, administrators, counselors, industry representatives) Meets via every other month, once a semester in-person Rotating morning/afternoon meeting times Guest speaking opportunities Field trips Teacher externship options Work collaboratively to develop strategies to improve PLTW program at RHS Overcoming the Challenges: PLTW Partnership Team

Recruitment Middle School Gateway to Technology Program To start, Geometry 9 Students are automatically enrolled in IED Word of mouth Competition – weighted credit Engineering Week each March PLTW Instructor/Student relationships Promotional information/materials for counselors to disseminate to students and parents Well-defined criteria for enrollment Career Pathways Recommendations from teachers within the building

Retention Curriculum and Engineering Week Teachers STEM Presentations Moodle Field Trips – Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, MS&T, Mizzou, SLU, Wash U, SLCC, UMSL Guest Speakers Core Subject Connections Robotics Articulation/Honors Credit Extra Help Opportunities

Success at RHS Nationally Certified – May 2008 Growth in enrollment 51 students in students in % Female enrollment 42% Minority enrollment 21 Students in EDD Capstone its first year; only St. Louis school to offer on-campus This year we have 16 students Graduates pursuing engineering in post-secondary institutions

Success at RHS Strong partnerships with Advisory Team (local engineering firms, state colleges and universities) Parent communication and involvement Teachers want to teach in the PLTW program All staff buy-in Success despite no Industrial Technology program

Future Plans at Ritenour High School Engineering Academy – All PLTW Students sharing same core academic teachers for four years Separate Engineering Wing for the High School Continued partnerships with engineers and engineering firms Core academic credits for PLTW courses (Example: Elective Math Credit granted for POE) Annual fieldtrips to engineering schools for all PLTW enrollees Internships for PLTW students Summer camps and academies

Contact Information Jennifer Strathman Ashley Gregory