Piedmont Tech’s ‘Project Lead the Way’ receives certification
June 1, 2010
As part of its continuing efforts to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the seven-county region, Piedmont Technical College has completed the requirements for certification to continue to offer Project Lead the Way, (PLTW), a national non-profit program that provides engineering and technology education curricula for teachers in middle and high schools.
“Project Lead the Way meshes with the goals of the Education and Economic Development Act (EEDA) of 2005,” said Sandy Warner, department head for engineering technology. “Piedmont Tech was the first technical college in South Carolina to be involved in this project.”
The law calls for the creation of clusters in schools to provide a well-rounded education for students by fostering artistic creativity, critical thinking, and self-discipline through the teaching of academic content, knowledge and skills that students will use in the workplace, further education and life.
The certification process begins as a self assessment, says Warner. This process requires schools to demonstrate they meet PLTW’s quality standards in professional development of teachers and counselors; the implementation of curriculum using required equipment and software; the formation of a Partnership Team, and demonstrate fulfillment of several additional aspects of the PLTW program. Then the program is evaluated by a team of experts.
“The self assessment gives us the opportunity to examine what we are doing and look at ways we can improve our program, not just for Project Lead the Way, but for the students enrolled in the engineering technology program at Piedmont Tech,” Warner said.
The primary purposes of the PLTW Certification Program are to recognize schools which have successfully initiated the PLTW program and to provide an opportunity for students to apply for college credit for selected PLTW courses.
“Piedmont Tech has always been a great supporter of Project Lead the Way,” said B.T. Martin, South Carolina state leader for PLTW. “They have shown an outstanding effort in supporting secondary PLTW programs in the region by forming a Memorandum of Understanding with many area high schools.”
For more information about Project Lead the Way, contact Warner at (864) 941-8466 or warner.s@ptc.edu.
