Mike Carr is a communications consultant with the Kern Family Foundation, based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The Kern Family Foundation provides funding for Project Lead The Way in Illinois and other states.
The increasing emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in Illinois is receiving a powerful impetus from Project Lead The Way, an outstanding pre-engineering curriculum that is being implemented by a growing number of schools across the state.
As more educators and school board members learn about the rigor and excellence of this program, interest is growing for use in schools.
In a world driven by technological change, students without a strong background in STEM are limiting their futures. Math and science courses are important, but Project Lead The Way's emphasis on applied learning connects with students at all interests and levels of ability, to let them see how engineering and technology apply difficult concepts in real world ways.
Project Lead The Way adds value to a curriculum that is meant to prepare students to be solid citizens and consumers, whether or not they choose to become engineers or work in technical fields.
The project was conceived in the early 1990s as a way to reverse the decline in students choosing engineering as a career. While the number of engineers graduating from universities in India and China has been steadily increasing, the opposite is true in the United States — a disturbing trend that could threaten America's quality of life in coming decades.
Educators in the field of engineering have pointed out that 90 percent of all engineers currently being trained are being schooled in Asia, which illustrates the magnitude of the challenge facing American education.
Project Lead The Way is proving to be a very effective solution and enthusiastically embraced by students, teachers, administrators, counselors, school boards and parents. Engineering-related businesses, community colleges and universities also recognize its value and are playing a key role in the program's success.
Many colleges and universities across the country recognize project coursework and offer advanced standing, college credit and/or scholarships. All participants are finding that the emphasis on partnerships builds closer relationships between schools and their communities. This has been true nationwide as well as in Illinois.
"The great working relationship among the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois State Board of Education, University of Illinois, Bradley University and many of the community colleges has really been important in furthering this program," said Karen Wilken, STEM education program director for the Kern Family Foundation, which supports the project in Illinois. "They provide a solid support network for schools involved in the program and work together to facilitate opportunities for the benefit of students, teachers, businesses, communities and Illinois' future economic prosperity."
Project Lead The Way provides schools with a comprehensive curriculum developed jointly by K-12 educators, college faculty and engineers. "Gateway to Technology," the middle school program, features five independent, nine-week units. "Pathway to Engineering," the high school curriculum, includes eight year-long classes, of which four are considered the minimum "core."
The project also offers a four-course program in biomedical sciences that includes a capstone class devoted to science research.
School boards are vital to the success of the project and its sustainability in a district. Implementing Project Lead The Way is possible for schools of all sizes, if the teachers are motivated and the board and administration are willing to make it a priority.
The program can be adopted incrementally over several years and has been successful in schools of all sizes. Small rural high schools sometimes work together or offer the program in conjunction with a local community college.
Teacher training is important. Before introducing project courses in their classrooms, teachers attend two-week sessions devoted to each course at the University of Illinois. This intensive training introduces teachers to the concepts, lessons and activities that they'll bring to their students and provides an opportunity to network with other professionals.
Summer Training Institute classes, taught by university faculty and project master teachers, are highly popular. The specialized training not only helps teachers implement the courses, but also infuses them with new enthusiasm.
"Project Lead The Way teachers felt that the summer training they received was extremely meaningful not only for teaching their project classes, but for their teaching in general," said a McLean County administrator. A Byron Middle School teacher adds: "The program has proven to be a positive influence on the teachers involved. They are excited about the technology and are energized by the students' ability and interest."
Project Lead The Way has been reviewed and adopted by school boards, administration and teaching staffs of more than 3,000 schools around the country and is continuing to expand in Illinois. This year, 10 middle schools and 69 high schools in Illinois are part of the project network, with 186 trained teachers and more than 5,000 students enrolled in project courses.
For more information, visit the Project Lead The Way website at http://www.pltw.org or view the Illinois website at www.pltw.uillinois.edu.