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Project Lead The Way® Core Training is an integral part of a 3-phase professional
development program that is offered during the summer on our National Engineering
Affiliate university campuses around the country. It is a foundational component of
teacher preparation that is necessary to ensure an instructor’s readiness to deliver
PLTW® curricula to students. The STI provides a collaborative setting where teachers
are immersed in content-specific, project-based instruction.
It is an intensive two-week instructional program that covers a year’s worth of curriculum
in 10-days. Due to the concentrated nature of curriculum and material delivery, it is
recommended that participants follow the guidelines below to avoid falling behind in the
coursework. Accelerated programs, like those offered at the STI, have a greater
potential for participants to feel overwhelmed if they begin to fall behind in the
coursework. It is recommended that participants stay on campus for the duration of the
STI. The university setting provides a collaborative environment and promotes peer to
peer interaction. It also enables participants to devote their full attention to the mastery
of coursework and allows for more productive and efficient group collaboration on
project assignments. Most participants find living on campus to be an enriching
experience and take advantage of the collegial atmosphere and opportunity for
professional growth.
STI classes run 5 days a week for 2 weeks with approximately 8 hours per day
designated for in-class instruction. The day prior to STI instruction will be utilized to
check-in and prepare the participants (including loading software and giving proper
network and campus access) for their STI experience. There are “homework”
components for all of the PLTW® STI courses. The time it takes to complete
assignments will vary for all participants, depending on an individual’s knowledge of the
topic and previous experience with the material. Staying on campus allows teachers to
work together during the evening and to have access to additional help that is provided
by the STI Instructors. Each day the STI Instructors will move forward with the
curriculum, so it is essential that problems with the material are addressed and resolved
as they occur. Due to the short duration of the STI, the only time for additional
assistance will be in the evenings.
Participants who successfully complete the STI will receive a Certificate of Completion
for the course at the conclusion of the STI. Issuance of a certificate is contingent upon
the participant’s demonstration of core competencies and understanding of course
content, successful completion of all required course material as well as their record of
daily attendance. The final decision to grant or withhold a certificate is at the discretion
of the STI instructors and National Engineering Affiliate Director. The Summer Training
Institute provides a comprehensive overview of the course content, and is not inclusive
of the full scope and breadth of the course. Due to the time constraints inherent in a 2-
week professional development session, the STI provides an introduction to select
lessons, activities and projects within the course. In preparation to teach the course, it is
the responsibility of the participant to continue to familiarize themselves with the entire
course curriculum upon completing the STI.
To promote a successful and empowering STI experience, all participants should review
and meet the following list of expectations:
- Arrive on opening day with a laptop that meets or exceeds PLTW computer
specifications
- Arrive on time to all daily class sessions (attendance is taken daily).
• Actively participate in classroom instruction.
- Complete all required assignments and assemble a course portfolio
• Attend evening sessions, if necessary
- Turn all cell phones and pagers off during class instruction, unless absolutely
necessary.
- Treat all participants, instructors and university staff/faculty professionally and
with respect
- Continue to review and become familiar with all curriculum material and work
toward skill mastery after leaving the STI
- Visit the PLTW Virtual Academy (www.pltw.org) to access supplementary online
lessons that have been developed to further prepare for PLTW courses.
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