Project Lead the Way
From launching space explorations to delivering safe, clean water to communities, engineers find solutions to pressing problems and turn their ideas into reality. PLTW Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to doers. The program’ s courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.
PLTW Engineering courses are part of the AP + PLTW engineering pathway
The Project Lead the Way Pathway To Engineering (PTE) program is a sequence of courses, which follows a proven hands-on, real- world, problem-solving approach to learning. Throughout PTE, students learn and apply the design process, acquire strong teamwork and communication proficiency and develop organizational, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. They discover the answers to questions like how are things made and what processes go into creating products? Students use the same industry-leading 3D design software used by companies like Intel, Lockheed Martin and Pixar. They explore aerodynamics, astronautics and space life sciences. Hello, NASA. Students apply biological and engineering concepts related to biomechanics – think robotics. They design, test and actually construct circuits and devices such as smart phones and tablets and work collaboratively on a culminating capstone project. It’s STEM education and it’s at the heart of today’s high-tech, high-skill global economy.
Foundation Courses:
Year 1 - Honors Introduction to Engineering Design
Students use the design process and industry standard 3D modeling software to design solutions to solve proposed problems.
Year 2 - Honors Principles of Engineering Design:
Students are exposed to major concepts like mechanisms, energy, statics, materials and kinematics.
Specialty Courses:
Year 3 - your choice of the following courses:
Computer Integrated Manufacturing
Students explore manufacturing history, individual processes, systems and careers. The course also incorporates finance, ethics and engineering design.
Civil Engineering & Architecture:
Students design and develop residential and commercial properties using 3D architectural design software.
Capstone Course:
Year 4 - Engineering Design and Development.
Students work in teams to design and develop an original solution to a valid open-ended technical problem by applying the engineering design process.