Project Lead the Way in Woodbury

Connor Harris, Nick Mortari, Tyson Chandler and Josh Bugel build and program an automated marble sorter at East Ridge High School.

Insulation, aluminum rods and 3D modeling software don’t sound like traditional back-to-school supplies. For students enrolled in engineering courses at East Ridge High School (ERHS), those classroom materials are in high demand.

“We work hard, but we get to learn a lot by doing,” says Denise Kotz, an instructor in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering classes at ERHS. PLTW is a nationwide organization that partners with middle schools and high schools to offer courses that prepare students to become leaders in career fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In these courses, students are able to apply knowledge gleaned from their textbooks while conducting hands-on experiments. “We have studied forces in truss systems, simple machines, sources of energy (both renewable and non-renewable) and statics and materials testing,” explains Kotz. “In some cases, we do this with notes on the board and solving problems in our books, and sometimes we do physical activities to learn how things work.”

Working mostly in pairs, PLTW students test concepts and theories by creating things like structural stress analyzers out of brass and aluminum rods, working with insulation to create boxes that trap heat, and building devices out of Fisher-technik materials (similar to LEGO Mindstorms). “The students are exposed to problem-solving while learning about the introduction to design,” says Dave Hawkinson, who also teaches PLTW engineering classes at ERHS.

Zach Tritz, a junior at ERHS, says taking the classes opened his eyes to applying his lifelong love of math and science to a potential future career in mechanical engineering. “The PLTW courses have given me a look at what engineers do and what it would take to be one,” he says. “I learned how to use 3-D modeling software that is in wide use in the engineering field, learned about different types of engineers, and even interviewed a mechanical engineer.”

In March, ERHS became the first school in the state to receive full certification in Project Lead the Way biomedical and engineering pathways, meaning students will now receive college credits for completing the courses. The biomedical science pathway is quickly becoming the most popular curriculum in the school; last year, 53 students enrolled in the classes, and this year over 190 eager learners will participate.

Similarly, Woodbury High School was granted provisional certification in engineering and will offer three courses this year. Principal Linda Plante says she’s looking forward to seeing students combine science, math and technology, especially in their new civil engineering and architecture course. WHS instructors will co-teach PLTW classes to give students a better idea of how the disciplines are interrelated.

No matter the final career path, there certainly is a lot to be gained from taking these rigorous but rewarding courses. Besides having a heightened knowledge of biomedical, engineering and architecture, PLTW students will likely be better prepared for college coursework, have more experience in thinking creatively and in communicating effectively with others. Hawkinson says he’s also noticed an increase in self-confidence and insightfulness in his engineering students.

“The skills they are learning, like working in groups, getting a problem and having to work through a solution, and then presenting the solution to the class, are amazing life skills,” Kotz says. “Some of the students will become engineers and some will not, but these skills are highly desirable in any career field.”

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To learn more about Project Lead the Way, visit pltw.org. For more information on the incorporation of PLTW curriculum in School District 833, go to the district's website.

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