Southern Regional Education Board HSTW A New Design for High School Career/Technical Studies Gene Bottoms Senior Vice President
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC What is Project Lead The Way It is a coherent program of academic and pre-engineering studies for students to: Understand engineering problem solving Understand how technological systems work with other systems Use mathematics knowledge and skills Communicate effectively Work with others
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Special Features of PLTW Pre- engineering Program of Studies Four years of mathematics – Algebra I and higher Three years of lab science Standards-based sequence of courses with guides Required two weeks of training to teach each course
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Special Features of PLTW Pre- engineering Program of Studies Teachers are taught project-based learning strategies Upgraded labs, materials and supplies End-of-course exams Training for counselors
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Do PLTW Features Matter? Do PLTW students have higher achievement? Are PLTW students more likely to take higher-level mathematics and science courses? Does taking more mathematics and science courses improve achievement? Do PLTW students have higher quality career/technical instruction? Do PLTW students receive better mathematics/science instruction?
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Two Different Comparisons Career/technical students from high- tech fields All career/technical students Match on the basis of: Gender Ethnicity Race/ethnics Parent education level
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Student Demographics for All PLTW Students and CTE Comparison Groups GroupMaleFemaleWhiteAfrican- American Other Ethnicities Students Whose Parents Attended College All PLTW76%24%64%24%12%69% CTE Compar- ison Groups Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment Data
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC DO PLTW students in the HSTW network have significantly higher achievement in reading, mathematics and science on a NAEP-referenced assessment than other students in the network?
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Comparison of PLTW Students’ Mean Scores to a Random Sample of CTE Students from Similar Fields Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data. The difference in the mean scores for mathematics between the two groups is significant at p ≤.05 on the t test.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Comparison of PLTW Students’ Mean Scores to a Random Sample of All CTE Students Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data. The difference in the reading and mathematics mean scores between the two groups are significant at p ≤.001, and the difference in the science mean score is significant at p ≤.05 based on the on the t test.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Are PLTW students more likely to take higher-level mathematics and science courses than other students?
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Comparison of PLTW Students’ Course-taking Patterns to Other Career/Technical Students Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC How do PLTW students who complete four years of college- preparatory mathematics and science perform compared with PLTW students who do not complete four years of college- preparatory mathematics and science?
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC PLTW Students’ Mean Mathematics and Science Scores by College-preparatory Mathematics and Science Courses Completed Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Percentages of PLTW Students Scoring at Each Proficiency Level by Completion of Mathematics and Science Curriculum Below Basic BasicProficient and Above Completed 4 Years of CP Math 18% 41% Did Not Complete 4 Years of CP Math Completed 4 years of CP Science Did Not complete 4 years of CP Science Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Do PLTW students experience more engaging instruction in mathematics and science classes and across the curriculum?
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Percentages of Students Having Moderate or Intensive Emphasis on Literacy, Numeracy and Science Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Engaging Mathematics Instruction Students reported: Taking mathematics senior year Taking 4 full-year courses in mathematics Being shown how mathematics concepts are used to solve real-life problems sometimes or often Using graphing calculators to complete mathematics assignments at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Engaging Mathematics Instruction Students reported: Completing a mathematics project at least monthly Defending orally a process they used to solve a mathematics problem at least monthly Working with one or more students on challenging mathematics assignments at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Engaging Mathematics Instruction Students reported: Working in groups to brainstorm how to solve a mathematics problem at least monthly Solving mathematics problems with more than one answer at least monthly Using mathematics to complete challenging assignments in career/technical areas at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Engaging Science Instruction Students reported: Completing any 3 of the following science courses: CP physical science, CP biology/Biology II, anatomy, CP chemistry, physics or Advanced Placement science Being shown how scientific concepts are used to solve problems in real life often
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Engaging Science Instruction Students reported: Taking a science class in their senior year Using science equipment to do science activities in a lab with tables and sinks at least weekly. Reading an assigned book or article dealing with science at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Engaging Science Instruction Students reported: Using science equipment to do science activities in a classroom at least monthly Working with one or more students on a challenging science assignment at least monthly Preparing a written report of lab results in science at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Literacy Students reported: Using word processing software to complete an assignment or project often Revising their essays or other written work several times to improve their quality often Using in-depth explanations about a class project or activity sometimes or often
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Literacy Students reported: Discussing or debating with other students about what they read in English/language arts classes at least monthly Reading and interpreting technical books or manuals to complete assignments in their career/technical area at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Literacy Students reported: Reading an assigned book outside of class at least monthly Spending two or more hours reading non- school related materials outside of class in a typical week Completing short writing assignments of one to three pages in their English classes at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Emphasis on Literacy Students reported: Completing short writing assignments of one to three pages in their science classes at least monthly Completing short writing assignments of one to three pages in their social studies classes at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Do PLTW students have a richer set of learning experiences in their career/technical courses?
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Percentages of Students Having a Moderate or Intensive Emphasis on Quality Career/Technical Studies Source: Special analyses of 2004 HSTW Assessment data.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Quality Career/Technical Studies Students reported: Spending one hour or more reading non- school-related materials in a typical week Using mathematics to complete challenging assignments in career/technical areas at least weekly Reading and interpreting technical books and manuals to complete career/technical assignments at least weekly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Quality Career/Technical Studies Students reported: Reading a career-related article and demonstrated understanding of the content at least monthly Using computer skills to do assignments in career/technical studies at least monthly Having challenging assignments in career/technical classes at least monthly
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Quality Career/Technical Studies Students reported: Completing a project that first required some research and a written plan Having to meet certain standards on a written exam to pass a course Being required to complete a senior project that included researching a topic, creating a product or performing a service and presenting it to the class or others
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC HSTW Key Indicators of Quality Career/Technical Studies Students reported: Speaking with or visiting someone in a career to which they aspire Spending 30 minutes or more each day on homework assigned by career/technical teachers
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Key Findings PLTW Students: Have significantly higher achievement in mathematics on a NAEP-referenced assessment than students from comparable fields Have significantly higher achievement in reading, mathematics and science than similar CT students
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC Key Findings PLTW Students: Complete significantly more higher-level mathematics and science courses Were enrolled in classes that engage them in challenging assignments Experienced higher-quality career/technical classes
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC What lessons can we apply to other career fields? Invest in high-quality curriculum materials. Require training for teaching each course. Use end-of-course exams.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC What lessons can we apply to other career fields? Define sequences of mathematics and science courses required. Train counselors. Develop university alliance. Require modern labs and supplies.
Southern Regional Education Board HSTW PLTW Research -- SC What can PLTW do to improve? Stress completion of four years each of mathematics and science. Train PLTW mathematics and science teachers to do integrated projects. Improve quality of mathematics and science instruction. Train PLTW on reading and writing for learning.