Engineering/Robotics class in High School

[EricLeifermann]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

Interesting. I wonder how PLTW is working out for them, and what it's giving them that they couldn't do independently. I don't have enough experience with it, but I've heard some unfavorable things about it.

It was only non PLTW for the 1st year. I believe the PLTW gave them more structure in possible courses to offer. I know that TESLA has grown in both enrolled students as well as classes offered since its inception in the 2002-2003 school year. TESLA started teaching math courses as well about 3 or 4 years ago that engage math in the context of engineering instead of solving the word problem in the book.

I haven't been involved with the school since I graduated in 2005 so the person to talk to would be Sean. He has a presence on CD and would definitely be open to answering a PM or an email.

[Lavapicker]

Pltw is very good but it has high upfront costs and a rigid curriculum. If you are more inventive or want to integrate robotics into the curriculum i suggest a hybrid program. I teach a class called directed studies in science within our engineerning academy that uses small problem solving projects, trebuchet building, career exploration, project presentations, spaghetti noodle bridges, underwater robotics and more. Something I learned is that students in this class aren't all going to be robotic students so it hasn't replaced our after school program. Someone explained it to me this way "the gym class isn't the football team"! Feel free to contact me if you want more specifics. Scienceguyme@yahoo.com