June 11, 2008

Teachers to receive technology training at Purdue Kokomo

Project Lead the Way, a national nonprofit program that provides middle and high school pre-engineering and technology curricula, is holding summer workshops for teachers at Purdue's College of Technology campus in Kokomo. The first session is from June 15-27, and the second is from July 6-18. More than 180 teachers -- about 150 of them from Indiana -- will attend the two sessions.

The two-week workshops are structured to prepare technology, mathematics, physics and other middle and high school teachers for such courses in their schools. Workshop topics include aerospace engineering, biotechnical engineering, civil engineering and architecture, computer integrated manufacturing, digital electronics, engineering design and development, gateway to technology, introduction to engineering design and principles of engineering. During the workshop, teachers specialize in one of the topics in one of the disciplines and will become certified upon completion to teach the topic.

"The mission of Project Lead the Way is to create dynamic partnerships with our nation's schools to prepare an increasing and more diverse group of students to be successful in science, engineering and engineering technology programs at the two- and four-year college level," said Kevin D. Taylor, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering technology who coordinates the training seminars. "This is achieved by providing teachers with a curriculum that is rigorous, and integrated-, activity-, project- and problem-based."

Project Lead the Way started in 1997 in 11 schools in two states.  It is now offered to more than 250,000 students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the U.S.; Ontario, Canada; United States Virgin Islands; and in Derby, England. More than 6,000 teachers have attended a training workshop at one of 35 colleges or universities.

Nearly 3,000 schools have adopted the Project Lead the Way curriculum. With more than 300 schools, Indiana leads the nation in the number schools using Project Lead the Way curricula.

The Project Lead the Way curriculum is developed in partnership with colleges and universities, industry and practicing teachers.

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

Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

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

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

Note to Journalists: Journalists are invited to attend any of the teachers' educational sessions. Contact Rene Bailey at (765) 455-9571, srbailey@purdue.edu

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