Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

PLTW Gateway is a middle school STEM curriculum from Project Lead the Way that uses hands-on, project-based learning to teach students about technology and engineering. It aims to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills while introducing students to different career pathways through modules on topics like robotics, biomedical science, mobile app development, and 3-D modeling and design. 

Examples of PLTW units taught in Odyssey Science & Computer Science classes:

Medical Detectives: Students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they collect and analyze medical data to diagnose disease. They solve medical mysteries through hands-on projects and labs, measure and interpret vital signs, examine nervous system structure and function, and investigate disease outbreaks.

App Creators: This unit will expose students to computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems through mobile app development, and will convey the positive impact of the application of computer science to other disciplines and to society.

Design and Modeling:  Students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy.

Robotics and Automation: Students are given the opportunity to combine mechanisms with input and output devices to automate the mechanisms. Construction and programming skills are layered, and projects and the problem provide students the opportunity to connect their learning throughout the lessons in the unit. Students take on the role of interns, and work in teams to identify design requirements and create prototypes to meet the needs of clients. They also explore different aspects of automation and robotics, and experience how solving real-life problems involves the teamwork of mechanical engineers, software developers, and electrical engineers.