Education is an indispensable profession in our world today, as teachers play a vital role in preparing students for the challenges of the future, enabling them to succeed at every stage of life. The positive impact of teachers has been widely substantiated through years of research that highlights that Teacher effectiveness is the most important school factor related to student performance and outcomes.. As a former teacher, I recognize that having critical resources and supports allows for greater effectiveness in the important work of fostering student success.
Improving teaching practice through professional development
A resource that every teacher needs is high-quality professional development. Professional development allows teachers to continue to improve their practice, learn new strategies and content, and engage students. Research has found that Effective professional development focuses on content, incorporates active learning, and supports collaboration.. When teachers have this type of professional learning that is relevant to their work and professional goals, they have improved job satisfaction.
Project leads the way (PLTW) knows how important it is to support teachers so they can make a difference for students. That’s why PLTW Core Training allows teachers to actively participate in their learning and collaborate with other educators. And it’s making a difference: 74 percent of teachers reported that PLTW Core Training made them more effective as teachers., and 68 percent of teachers reported that PLTW core training has had more impact on their teaching practice than other types of professional development. According to PLTW research, 67 percent of teachers felt that PLTW made them more satisfied with their careers.
Cultivate students’ lifelong learning and career exploration
A core belief of PLTW is that students cannot be what they cannot see. Students should have engaging, high-quality, real-world applied learning experiences where they develop technical and employability skills that will prepare them for success in school and beyond. Additionally, students must be able to see themselves in the wide range of career opportunities that exist. PLTW has heard from students how valuable its courses are because they help expose and engage them in STEM subjects and prepare them for life beyond K-12.
There comes a point very early in a child’s educational experience when he or she self-selects into or out of subjects like math and science. Students who have not had experience with those content areas often self-select. The PLTW launch curriculum for preK-5 students was created to address this issue. Studies indicate that Early exposure to STEM is associated with greater interest in STEM and higher academic achievement. PLTW strives for students to experience an engaging and hands-on way to learn about engineering, computer science, and biomedical sciences. This gives students opportunities to see what they like and what they are great at. One student shares, “If PLTW had never existed, if it had never existed… I would not have become the person I am today. I wouldn’t have learned robotics. I wouldn’t have liked to code. “I wouldn’t have discovered something I really love.”
In PLTW courses, students use the software, hardware, and tools used in industry, leveraging programs such as CAD, C++, Python, and AutoDesk Inventor. This development of technical skills provides a foundation that students can build on in higher education or in the workplace. Additionally, students hone employability skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration in their PLTW classroom. “All the skills I have acquired in those aspects (collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving) come 100 percent from PLTW classes,” states one student, “Without PLTW classes, I would not be where I am now and I would be able to collaborate and solve problems.”
The intentionality of these classroom experiences is important in making a difference for students. Independent research studies have found that PLTW improves a variety of student outcomesincluding academic achievementhigh school graduation and postsecondary success.
The role of partnerships in advancing STEM education
This underscores the importance of the work done by PLTW, an organization created and led by educators to support teachers and students. But PLTW can’t do this job alone. Schools cannot do this work alone. Developing and leveraging partnerships across a STEM ecosystem is how we can ensure students are prepared to succeed and how we can do this work at scale across our nation. We need to ensure that students have experiences that change their STEM identities and help them build a social network. This comes from immersive experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom.
It is important for teachers to have a STEM ally, who provides them with an engaging curriculum to implement in the classroom, as well as professional learning that allows them to thrive in their careers. PLTW wants to play a role in shaping students’ futures: helping them develop relevant skills and giving them exposure and experience with potential career opportunities they would never have dreamed of.
