PLTW is Back!!

Tri Township School Corporation is excited to be bringing back the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program at all levels for the 2022-2023 school year.  PLTW will be implemented in grades K-12. The elementary students will be introduced to the program's hands-on learning experience through the launch program, junior high students will be introduced to robotics in the gateway program, and the high school students will have the opportunity to take an introduction to engineering this year. For the last three years the high school students have been able to choose the Computer Science pathway as well that is taught by Ms. Nicole Beaver.

Elementary students already have the qualities of great designers and innovators. What PLTW Launch does is tap into their exploratory nature, engage them in learning that feels like play, and encourage them to keep discovering – now and for years to come. Elementary will participate in the launch program at least once per week for 45 minute sessions.

In junior high it 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. Junior High students will participate in the gateway program for one class period a day for one semester.

The high school Engineering Program is a program of five challenging courses that uses project-based, hands-on experience to teach students the key elements and skills of engineering and technology-based careers by immersing them in rigorous engineering problems. The goal of PLTW is to increase the number and diversity of engineering graduates by allowing them to experience pre-engineering curriculum and concepts while in high school. It will also give our students 21st century employment skills to allow them to compete in the outside world beyond high school. Students in the engineering program will be taking a year long course. The engineering pathway has three classes that the students will need to complete.

All of this is possible because of the dedication of our new PLTW teacher, Mr. Joseph Clifford. Mr. Clifford has 20+ years of experience in the aviation community that brings a special skill set to the program and our school. He has worked on multiple aircraft platforms fixing winged aircraft, helicopters, and even drones. Many of our students know him as he was a para at the high school and then a special education teacher at the elementary school last year. Mr. Clifford is very excited to lead our students through this rigorous program.