Technology is part of everyone’s world. Some people think technology is a series of abstract concepts and devices understood by only a few. Nothing could be further from the truth. Technology is human innovation in action. People re-design or “engineer” the natural world to fit their needs or wants. Technology and Engineering Education is the study of this human adaptive process through a laboratory-centered, hands-on and minds-on, activity-based approach. In doing so, we employ math, science and technology principles and evaluate their resulting impacts. A quick look at the Parkland’s Technology and Engineering Department’s course descriptions will reveal these principles and career exploration opportunities for future engineers, engineering technicians, architects, etc.

These are some of the experiences that students will gain through Parkland’s Technology and Engineering program:

• Designing, developing, and utilizing technological systems
• Open-ended, problem-based design activities
• Applying technological knowledge to real world experiences
• Invention and other topics dealing with human innovation
• Working individually as well as in teams to solve problems

Project Lead The Way

Project Lead the Way (PLTW) provides students with rigorous and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education curricular programs at the high school level. Developed by PLTW teachers, university educators, engineering professionals, and school administrators, this transformational program promotes high levels of critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem-solving skills in students. The curriculum, when combined with traditional mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of studies in specific STEM related fields prior to entering college.

All PLTW courses employ the use of a Learning Management System along with traditional instruction. This simply means that the courses are a blend of internet delivered curriculum and teacher facilitated instruction and activities. These courses, however, are not self-paced. Experiments, classroom assignments, homework, and various computer files are submitted and received electronically in the form of Microsoft WORD, EXCEL, and/or POWER POINT files. We strongly suggest that students who are interested in PLTW have good file management skills and are also able to access the internet from home.

Parkland High School offers three PLTW programs, including PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Biomedical Science, and PLTW Engineering. These courses are offered at the Honors or AP levels as indicated within the course titles. Below are the PLTW pathways for each program that show the sequence that students should follow when registering for these courses: