Project Lead The Way 

Pennsylvania

Revised 1/29/2007

Project Lead The Way has developed two programs.  One program is for Middle Schools and is called Gateway to Technology.  The second program is called Pathway To Engineering and is for high schools.  Both programs are "activity oriented".  Either program can be implemented independently.

The Gateway program shows students how technology is used in engineering to solve everyday problems.  It incorporates national standards in math, science and technology.  Gateway To Technology consists of five independent units that should be taught in conjunction with a rigorous academic curriculum. The units are designed to challenge and engage the exploratory minds of middle school students. Each 9-week unit contains performance objectives and suggested assessment methods.  You can review the individual Gateway courses by selecting About Project Lead The Way on the menu.  A minimum implementation of the Gateway program is two courses.

Pathway to Engineering is a  four year sequence of courses which, when combined with college preparatory mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college.  Introduction at this level will attract more students to engineering, and will allow students, while still in high school, to determine if engineering is the career they desire. Students participating in PLTW courses are better prepared for college engineering programs and more likely to be successful, thus reducing the attrition rate in these college programs, which currently exceeds 50% nationally.  You can review the individual Pathway courses by selecting About Project Lead The Way on the menu.

A critical component of the Project Lead The Way program is its comprehensive teacher training model. The curriculum these teachers are required to teach utilizes cutting edge technology and software requiring specialized training. Ongoing training supports the teachers as they implement the program and provides for continuous improvement of skills.

Understanding that another key to success is awareness, PLTW makes a concerted effort to inform school counselors through counselor conferences, brochures and videotapes about the benefits of the program, as well as the wide array of technology jobs and careers available to students who enter the field upon graduation from high school and college.

Students can receive up to 9 college credits at Penn State in an Engineering Technology program if their high school is certified by Project Lead The Way and they meet the academic requirements.