PREPARING FOR A PLTW SITE VISIT:

Lisa Woodrum and Ann HermanFrancis Howell North High School A counselors perspective

1PLTW at FHSDWhat are students and teachers saying?

Ive learned a lot about computers.I love all the fun activities that we do.Kids are really excited about the curriculum. I have kids that are meeting me at the door when I unlock the door in the morning.I think I will be really prepared compared to other kids next year (in college). http://www.schooltube.com/video/a1b51579ba3e1cac9909/FHSD-PLTW

Introductory notes.2PLTW and the Professional School CounselorProfessional School Counselors (PSCs) play an integral role in the PLTW certification process.

How can PSCs at your school contribute to the certification process?

What should PSCs focus on throughout the three-year certification process?What can PSCs expect during the site visit?How can PSCs continue to support the PLTW program after certification?

Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.3PSCs Role: An OverviewProvide Education about PLTWEducate Others

Attend PLTW ConferencesEducate Self

PLTW Partnership TeamCollaborate with CommunityAn opportunity for questions and discussions.4Provide Education about PLTWThe counselor helps to educate students, staff, and the community about the PLTW program.

PLTW websiteProvide informational brochures and other marketing materialsAdd PLTW information to course catalog and websiteHost STEM-related guest speakers and activitiesShare PLTW information with middle school studentsSpend time in PLTW classroomBeginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.5Attend PLTW ConferencesThe PLTW certification process requires that at least one counselor attends a PLTW conference annually. Counselor conferences are designed to provide information about PLTW programs and student recruitmentTypically take place in the Fall and are hosted by PLTW University AffiliatesAppropriate for counselors, post-secondary advisors, administrators, teachers

Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.6Be Actively Engaged in the PLTW Partnership Team A Partnership Team supports the program and meets on a regular basis with a specific agenda and goals to accomplish.Membership should include at least one counselor, site and district level administrators, persons working in diverse business, industry, and education roles.Collaboration with counselors helps ensure that the teams goals are consistent with the academic and career planning needs of students.

Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.7The PLTW Site Visit: An OverviewThe PLTW certification team visits PLTW classroom(s) to observe students work, interview students, and check the equipment.

The PLTW certification team visits with school counselors and PLTW teachers.

The PLTW certification team visits with the Partnership Team.

Introductory notes.8PSCs Role During the Site VisitPSCs will be interviewed without administrators or PLTW teachers present.Classroom experienceProgram promotion and student invitationDiversity of student populationKnowledge of middle school PLTW programUnderstanding of engineering in todays local and global society

Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.9Interview Questions to Consider:Professional DevelopmentHave you attended a PLTW conference?

Have you been on the PLTW website to get information?

Describe how you think the PLTW program fits into the overall school?

Conclusion to course, lecture, et al. 10Interview Questions to Consider:StudentsHow are students identified for the PLTW program?What strategies have you used to recruit girls and underrepresented minorities into the program? Describe how girls and underrepresented minorities are supported and/or encouraged to be comfortable and successful in the program.How would you describe the PLTW program to parents who are considering it for their son or daughter?What kinds of extra help are available to those students who struggle in PLTW and other academic classes?What would you consider the most challenging aspect in recruiting and retaining students into the program?

Conclusion to course, lecture, et al. 11Interview Questions to Consider:Post-SecondaryWhat role do you take in helping student develop a four-year plan of study? Post-secondary plan of study?How do you involve parents in the guidance/advisement process?How does the career planning process address the students career aspirations?How do you use data to help develop a program of study?How do you help students see the relationship between the courses they take and their future plans?What dual credit or post secondary articulation opportunities are available to the students?

Conclusion to course, lecture, et al. 12PSCs Continued Support After CertificationHow will PSCs in your school provide ongoing support of the PLTW program?Utilize MAP, Explore scores to invite students to experience PLTW intro courseFacilitate high school students visiting middle schools annuallyDescribe the PLTW classroom experience to students and familiesConnect college/career pathways to PLTW courses

Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.13PLTW and Diversity: The FactsPLTW programs are distributed across the entire economic spectrum including the least affluent schools.The vast majority of PLTW programs need to add or subtract only one or two students from any race/ethnic group to achieve proportional representation.The biomedical sciences curriculum enrolls about 70% female students.Females make up nearly 24% of all PLTW students.

Source: PLTW Student Outcomes Fact Sheethttp://www.pltw.org/sites/default/files/PLTW%20Student%20Outcomes_1.pdf

Conclusion to course, lecture, et al. 14Examine Diversity in Your SchoolDoes your schools PLTW program enrollment reflect your schools diversity?Collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop a plan for improving the diversity of your schools PLTW program. Extracurricular activities showcasing their designsStudents and guest speakers presenting to eighth grade studentsPersonal invitations

Beginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.15PLTW and Gender Equity: Retention Is Not The ProblemWomen earn over half of all bachelors degrees, but only about 20% of degrees in engineering.

Women who enter engineering programs earn degrees at rates equal to or higher than those for men.

Civil, environmental, and chemical engineering are among the disciplines in which women are more likely to complete their studies than male students.

Recruitment, not retention, is the problem!

Cohen, C., & Deterding, N. (2009). Widening the net: National estimates of gender disparities in education. Journal of Engineering Education, July, 211-226.Conclusion to course, lecture, et al. 16PLTW and Gender Equity:Early Career Education is KeyEngineering topics and objectives should be explicitly incorporated into K-12 standards, curriculum, and testingRobotics and other STEM activities should actively recruit females at the middle school levelStudents need a better understanding of the many paths to engineeringInvite female students with strong math/science ability to consider a PLTW course in 9th gradeProvide information about STEM experiences within the communityMissouri S & T, Saint Louis University, and Washington University sponsor engineering summer camps for femalesFemales often show an interest in helping othersStudents already know engineers build skyscrapers and bridgesDo they know that engineers also design prosthetic limbs, dental implants, accessibility devices for persons with disabilities? Conclusion to course, lecture, et al. 17PLTW and Connection to Common CoreThroughout PLTW, students learn and apply the design process, acquire strong teamwork and communication proficiency, and develop organizational, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skillsPLTW provides real life experiences to students

This approach mirrors the Common Core curriculumBeginning course details and/or books/materials needed for a class/project.18Final Thoughts for CounselorsPartner with PLTW teachersLearn about the program and be engaged in the certification processBe creative in recruiting females and underrepresented minoritiesThe site visit interview is an opportunity to collaborate and highlight the vital role of counselors in the certification process

Lisa WoodrumProfessional School CounselorCounseling Department ChairpersonFrancis Howell North High SchoolLisa.Woodrum@fhsdschools.org

Ann HermanProfessional School CounselorFrancis Howell North High SchoolAnn.Herman@fhsdschools.org

Questions?