STEM Educators Guide: Technology & Engineering: Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

PLTW Launch’s 43 interdisciplinary modules bring learning to life. The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. And as students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge.

Middle school is a time of exploration, a time when students are figuring out what they’re passionate about today and how that relates to who they’ll become tomorrow. During this transitional time, PLTW Gateway’s 10 units empower students to lead their own discovery. The hands-on program boosts classroom engagement and excitement, drives collaboration, and inspires “aha! moments” and deep comprehension. And as students engage in PLTW’s activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they see a range of paths and possibilities they can look forward to in high school and beyond.

Immersing students in activities like practicing suturing and constructing body structures from clay, PLTW Biomedical Science empowers students to build knowledge and skills in biomedical science, as well as in-demand, transportable skills like problem solving, critical and creative thinking, communication, and collaboration.

Includes courses such as Computer Science Essentials, Computer Science Principles (Using Python), Computer Science (Endorsed by the College Board, giving students the opportunity to take the AP Computer Science A exam for college credit) and Cybersecurity.

This popular curriculum includes 10 courses on a wide variety of Engineering subjects. The knowledge and skills students acquire throughout PLTW Engineering come together in Engineering Design and Development as they identify an issue and then research, design, and test a solution, ultimately presenting their solution to a panel of engineers.

This annual event hosted by the KC STEM Alliance celebrates graduating PLTW students and highlights their senior capstone projects from the Engineering Design and Development and Biomedical Innovation courses in a festive event for friends, family, educators, business and community. Students bring their PLTW curriculum to life as they share their projects with attendees, reviewers and judges for the STEM Innovator Award Contest. The Showcase and competition are open to the public and celebrate and recognize student innovation.