Teachers to receive technology training with Project Lead the Way

The teachers are participating in Project Lead the Way training sessions at Purdue's College of Technology campus in Kokomo. The program, which begins June 18 and runs through July 21, allows technology, mathematics, physics and other middle and high school teachers to learn curricula so that they may teach such technically based courses in their schools.

Sessions are scheduled from June 18-30, July 9-21 and July 9-14.

During the June 18-30 session, the high school courses offered are digital electronics, introduction to engineering design and principles of engineering. The middle school course offered is called "Gateway to Technology."

The July 9-21 session includes high school courses in aerospace engineering, biotechnical engineering, civil engineering and architecture, engineering design and development, and introduction to engineering design. The July 9-14 session covers a middle school course in aerospace technology.

Project Lead the Way is a national educational program that promotes high-level technology and pre-engineering curricula in middle and high schools. Through collaborations between K-12 education, higher education and industry, the goal of the program is to increase the number and quality of engineers and engineering technologists in the United States.

"Project Lead the Way is a great way to raise the technical literacy of high school graduates and hopefully entice them to enroll in a science, engineering or technology major in college," said Kevin D. Taylor, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering technology who is leading the training seminars. "Combined with college preparatory math and science classes, the rigorous curriculum introduces both theory and practical hands-on techniques in analyzing everyday problems."

In Indiana, Project Lead the Way is offered in partnership between the Indiana Department of Education, the Department of Workforce Development and Purdue's College of Technology. It reaches more than 10,000 students each year in more than 160 schools throughout the state. Only New York has a higher level of participation from its state's schools.

The program includes a wide range of technology and pre-engineering topics, including computer-aided design, robotics, electronics and engineering design.

At this summer's training session, teachers may earn college credit as they learn about hands-on projects they can use in their classrooms and develop their own Project Lead the Way lesson plans.

There will be more than 160 teachers attending the training, including one from Derby, England.

Last year, programs in biotechnical engineering and aerospace engineering were piloted. Taylor said biotechnical engineering will be taught again this year in Kokomo.

"The training we offer here to the teacher who will implement this is like boot camp," he said. "We’re trying to cover a year's worth of curriculum in 80 hours. When we send them home, they're tired, but quite enthusiastic about delivering this material in their classrooms."

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Kevin Taylor, (765) 455-9571, kdtaylor@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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