PLTW Summit 2022 is coming to Orlando, FL Oct. 28-30, 2022, with workshop sessions to empower you with the tools and tips to maximize your time and enhance the learning experience for your students. See below for a first look at the sessions featured in our in-person PLTW Biomedical Science track, and head over to pltw.org/summit to add sessions to your PLTW Summit agenda!
Best Practices with Electronic Portfolios: Using Google Docs, Google Classroom, and Google Drive to Help Students (and Teachers!)
Erin Ritz and Danielle Weber
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
Have you ever wondered how to make your student assignments in PLTW Biomedical Science viewable in real-time? Do you want to streamline the process of assigning and grading work on your Learning Management System (LMS)? In this workshop session, we’ll share tips and tricks on how to set up electronic portfolios utilizing Google Classroom, Google Docs, and Google Drive along with online PLTW curriculum for each of the four classes within the PLTW Biomedical Science program to meet the needs of your students. We’ve created a successful way to navigate this work and you can learn how to do it, too!
Participants completing the session will:
- Can create Google Docs that align to PLTW Biomedical Science activities, projects, and problems that meet the teachers’ and students' needs.
- Can create and set up an organized Google Drive filled with the ‘Student Versions’ of the Google Docs that meet the teachers’ needs.
- Can create, set up, and schedule an organized Google Classroom that meets the teachers’ and students' needs.
Biotechnician Assistant Credential Exam: Leveraging PLTW Curriculum with the BACE Pre-test Material to Increase Success
David Woods and Tammy Mandell
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
The Biotechnician Assistant Credentialing Exam (BACE) is an industry-recognized exam designed to assess core skills and knowledge sets identified by industry and represented within the academic and performance standards of biotechnology programs. Every school that is part of the PLTW network receives free access and use of the BACE test preparation system with unlimited student seats. This workshop session shows you how to leverage the software while utilizing the PLTW Biomedical Science curriculum to increase student performance on the BACE industry credential.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand how to gain access to the BACE pre-test prep material that is free to schools with the PLTW Biomedical Science program. By the end of this session, all attendees will understand how to gain access to the BACE pre-test prep material that is free to the PLTW BMS schools.
- Have a greater understanding of how to use the BACE pre-test in conjunction with the PLTW Biomedical Science curriculum as a tool to check for understanding of students on a rolling basis. Example: quarterly, by semester review to identify gaps in knowledge/understanding.
- Have awareness of the continual support that Biotility offers to PLTW Biomedical Science students, schools, and programs at the post-secondary and industry levels.
Paving a Path to University and Industry Partners
Cassi Crowell
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
Paving a Path to University and Industry Partners highlights the development of partnerships with both universities and industry partners that not only provide curriculum enhancement while students are in PLTW programs, but also provides opportunities and pathways for students at the collegiate level. These pathways include summer research camps, co-teaching opportunities, and technology enhancements within the classroom that increase student engagement and promote student retention of knowledge.
Participants completing the session will:
- Implement partnerships within their own classroom to provide students with meaningful connections to surrounding universities.
- Work with industry partners to enhance student engagement and retention in their classroom.
- Foster relationships with collegiate and university partners from which students can benefit for the time they are involved in the PLTW program.
Amazing Team Effort to Create Pathways for Biomedical Science, Healthcare, and Biotech Careers
Katrina Rogers, Tamara Mandell, and Diane Lashinsky
Tracks: PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
See what’s possible when a committed team joins together to create real opportunities for PLTW Biomedical Science graduates right out of high school! Supported by Washington State University Health Sciences Spokane, ADD WHO harnessed Eastern Washington’s vision for the future of workforce talent to support healthcare, innovative biomedical research, biotechnology, and biomanufacturing. In this session you’ll hear from ADD about their two-year project to integrate vital elements that would provide PLTW Biomedical Science students with opportunities to engage with local biomedical science industries to launch their careers.
Participants completing the session will:
- Examine criteria for building a team to meet career launch goals for students, including educators, employers, colleges, and a respected industry-recognized credential.
- Leave understanding the importance of connecting goals to local, relevant industry needs and ensuring student access to high-demand careers.
- Leave Understanding how connecting with relevant local initiatives in your region or state focuses team effort, accelerates momentum, and supports overall success.
Creating a Near-Peer Mentoring Program with PLTW Students and Undergraduate STEM Students
Tracks: PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
Scott Troy
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
Through a collaboration between a Colorado high school PLTW program and the University of Denver, we established a focused near-peer mentoring program in which a total of 33 Denver Univeristy STEM undergraduates mentored 67 PLTW students, creating a total of 21, 35-50-minute mentoring sessions that were held throughout the academic year of 2020-21. These mentoring sessions focused on both PLTW-specific topic mentoring, as well as "soft skill" and academic process skill mentoring. This workshop introduces the design and implementation of this very successful program, as well as tips and suggestions for creating similar cooperative experiences in other schools.
Participants completing the session will:
- Identify the characteristics of a near-peer STEM mentoring program that could be replicated or adapted for success in their respective schools and PLTW programs.
- Compare and contrast the near-peer mentoring involved with PLTW-specific topic mentoring and "soft skill" or academic process skill mentoring.
- Analyze the implementation of a collaborative near-peer mentoring program between high school PLTW students and undergraduate STEM students to identify "lessons learned."
Leveraging Community Partnerships
Michael Rubin
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
Uxbridge High School (UHS), a small, suburban, public high school in central Massachusetts, has leveraged partnerships with local industry to create authentic learning opportunities for students and curriculum support for students. In doing so, the PLTW programs at UHS have been used to model a variety of other programs across the state and region, as the school merges these partnerships with traditional content areas in an effort to reimagine what school looks like.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the nexus between PLTW programs and effective industry partnerships.
- Leave this presentation with a variety of practices that can be used with faculty, support staff, families, students, and community partners to help drive improvement to learning across all areas.
- See how a whole-school approach to industry partnerships has had a positive impact on the enrollment and performance in PLTW programs.
Biomedical Science and Engineering: A Perfect Capstone Together
Bethany A. Kelly and Todd Barney
Tracks: PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science
Join this session to see how two teachers co-taught the PLTW Biomedical Science and PLTW Engineering classes to benefit all of the students. By utilizing both curriculums, the students were able to develop stronger research skills, as well as design and development skills to increase the depth of their capstone projects. Take part in this discussion of best practices and hear findings from using this model for the past two years.
Participants completing the session will:
- Hear peer stories about the process of combing biomedical innovations and engineering design and development.
- Discuss the collaboration process involved in combining both disciplines.
- Take away a framework for students in both capstones.
Rochester Institute of Technology PLTW Undergraduate College Credit
Deborah Cooper, George Zion, and Sarah Pillittere
Tracks: PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
In this session, participants are given an overview of the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) PLTW undergraduate college credit program and participate in an in-depth discussion about the credit registration process, benefits of college credit, and the transferability of credit.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the RIT PLTW undergraduate college credit program including: courses, student eligibility qualifications, timeline/important dates; Benefits for students; Benefits for schools.
- Understand the credit registration process including: Teacher role and Student/parent roles.
- Allow participants to ask questions and view online registration and website, (timing allowed).
Engaging and Recruiting: Medical Detectives and PLTW Biomedical Sciences
Katie Porter and Amanda Betts
Tracks: PLTW Gateway, PLTW Biomedical Science
How can your team efficiently offer more hands-on experiences to students without exhausting industry resources? How do you engage medical professionals and connect them to your student's learning? How can you create memories for students to increase enrollment and retain students? This session offers insight into all of these topics for your PLTW Biomedical Sciences program.
Participants completing the session will:
- Design and host a Biomedical Science Day for middle and high school students.
- Implement recruiting tools to increase enrollment and retain students in your program.
- Engage middle school students in biomedical science opportunities.
Incorporating Game-based Learning into Your Classroom Experience
Myrtis Smith
Tracks: PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science
Game-based learning is about incorporating games into learning activities. Games provide a safe learning environment, help teach soft skills, and help create a more student centered classroom. This interactive workshop shows how easy it is to incorporate a wide variety of games into your everyday teaching. Games can be used to preview material, assessments, homework, review, and so much more. Games can be online, offline, high-tech, or low-tech. Incorporating more games into your classroom does not require a lot of additional prep and can go a long way in getting your students more engaged.
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn the difference between gamification and game-based learning.
- Learn easy ways to incorporate games into every aspect of their teaching.
- Practice using a variety of games in order to learn when and how to incorporate games into their course.
3D Printing Made Simple for Education
Brian Bobbitt
Tracks: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science
Join our session to check out different styles of 3D printers. See how 3D printing enhances STEM instruction through different implemented projects that are proven successful. You’ll get the chance to use free software that can make innovative ideas come to a reality on a 3D printer.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the different types of 3D printers, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
- Know how to analyze the different types of filaments available and how to use them most effectively.
- Have a plan to implement 3D printing in your own classroom.
Create an Action Plan for Implementing and Sustaining a PreK-12 PLTW Program
Janet Cornell, Tiffany Shaw, and Paul Dunlap
Tracks: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science
Discover how a school in Ohio created, grew, and maintained a thriving PreK-12 PLTW program. From its humble beginnings in 2008, Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools has steadily expanded its course offerings, trained staff, and continually increased the number of students impacted. Their PLTW program consistently achieves national, state, and local recognition, and serves as a model for schools looking to implement a robust PreK-12 PLTW program. Learn what is needed to garner community and industry support as you build and sustain your PLTW Program.
Participants completing the session will:
- Create an action plan to assist with implementation of your PLTW PreK-12 Program.
- Develop an understanding of the sequential process necessary to build a highly successful PreK-12 PLTW program and earn methods for maintaining student engagement for PLTW courses from preschool through graduation.
- Learn strategies for enlisting and maintaining financial support from community businesses, associations, and individuals.
Leveraging Literacy in the PLTW Classroom
Todd Williamson
Tracks: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science
You've probably heard "Kids read in every class, so you're ALL Literacy Teachers" but what does that look like in the PLTW classroom? Join in for a session on two low-stress, high-impact literacy strategies that can be used in PLTW classes across the full range of PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, and PLTW High School programs. Walk away from this session with ideas you can implement next week!
Participants completing the session will:
- Brainstorm the role that literacy plays in PLTW classrooms, and conversely, the role PLTW classrooms play in literacy education.
- View, analyze, and create examples of “Top Down Concept Maps” for topics within their PLTW modules, units, or courses.
- View, analyze, and create examples of “Two Column Notes” aligned with topics in their PLTW modules, units, or courses.
Creating a PLTW Implementation Plan
Jamie Mathews and Stephanie Mason
Tracks: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
In this session, participants will learn about how the DeSoto Parish School District revamped their STEM offerings using PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, and PLTW High School curriculum. Investigate the strategic planning that occurs between district and school leadership teams in order to increase student access to meaningful STEM programs. The collaborative effort requires creative scheduling and staffing solutions to meet the needs of the diverse student population in the parish.
Participants completing the session will:
- Identify the unique challenges DeSoto Parish Schools faced when implementing PLTW programs in schools across a district with diverse student populations.
- Use sample plans provided to determine how to best plan for future implementation of PLTW in K-12 schools.
- Be better prepared to seek support from district leaders including your Superintendent, Human Resource Manager, STEM Coordinators, or other personnel needed to successfully implement a strong PLTW program.
Make Your Curriculum and Technology Work for All Students: Tools for Equitable Instruction
Sarah Van Loo and Bill Van Loo
Tracks: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
The past three years have highlighted many of the most challenging aspects of teaching in the current era of education. Challenges in creating engaging experiences for learners and authentic connections with students abound.
How can teachers make their classroom experiences accessible and engaging for all students today? In this session, we’ll explore and share a number of strategies, including practical ways for implementing Universal Design for Learning, understanding how they can use good information design, and digging into case studies that demonstrate how to make the most of technology to engage and communicate with students and families.
Participants completing the session will:
- Discover how to design instruction that benefits all students. Working in small groups, solve classroom scenarios and walk away with specific and practical strategies for your classrooms.
- Gain an understanding of how to maximize learning management system (LMS) to engage and reach students. Specific strategies for organization, communication, and access will be discussed and shared.
- Learn information design strategies that empower them to convey content and instruction effectively and efficiently to students across multiple platforms. Examples of using these strategies across a variety of tools and platforms will be shared and explored.
Teach One, Teach All: PLTW for Multilingual Learners is PLTW for Everyone!
Melinda Alvey
Tracks: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
PLTW is for everyone! Adapting your curriculum to multilingual learners enhances your classroom and provides access to your content for young minds from all over the world. This isn't an easy task, but we can implement some simple ideas to begin circumnavigating the complexities of the English language and return the focus to your content. Walk away from this session with tangible examples for teaching multilingual learners, specifically in the secondary classroom.
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn how to use graphic organizers. Graphic organizers are more than just note-catchers, T-charts, and a buzzword for interviews! Created the right way, these tools engage all students in the "wordy" parts of your lessons, organize the language visually, and allow your concepts to shine through.
- See how to use images to navigate barriers. If you have multilingual learners in your class, you might be looking for ways to use Google Translate -- instead, think Google Images. The answer to a language barrier is not always (and often isn't!) more language.
- In order for our students to grow in their ability to speak and write, they need targeted language supports. Speaking and writing are often used for students to demonstrate their understanding of concepts, but we can also use verbal and written language supports to drive the learning of a concept.
Expanding PLTW in Small Rural Schools
Jenifer Elser and Karen Degel
Track: PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
Methodology to implement a strong PLTW program in a small rural school can seem impossible. Budget constraints, teacher shortages, and dwindling enrollment are just a few of the many obstacles small schools face in implementing and growing their PLTW programs. While it may appear daunting, expanding and advancing the programs in these conditions is possible. This session illustrates the journey one small rural school took to grow their PLTW program encompassing all grades, bringing relevant STEM experiences to students from early Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Participants completing the session will:
- Conceptualize the methodology of implementation and growth of a PLTW program in a small, rural school. Attendees will strategize growth and implementation of PLTW in their own classrooms and districts.
- Formulate methods for building community partnerships while growing their own PLTW programs. Attendees will brainstorm possible guest speakers, field trips, connections with local universities and professionals that may serve as community partners in a growing PLTW program.
- Assess the benefits of transitioning to the PLTW curriculum specifically in a small, rural setting. Attendees will envision a growing PLTW program in their school and community.
PLTW Biomedical Science: Who, What, When, and Where
Peggy Fowler, Kelly Webb, Erin Morse, and Randy Keefe
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
Are looking for ways to implement a sustainable PLTW Biomedical Science (BMS) program in your district? Join this session to see how educators from Palm Harbor University High School in Palm Harbor, Florida started, sustained, and supported their BMS program from start to finish.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the outlining stage of implementation and planning for district support and training.
- See the day-to-day maintenance of the program and how ceremonies, student volunteer hours, and testing are integrated.
- Learn fundraising tactics used by the administration and other support programs through the creation of an advisory board.
PLTW Common Capstone - Open Review
Jason Rausch and Brendan Murphy
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science
In school year 2021-22, PLTW developed and tested an iteration of Engineering Design and Development titled PLTW Common Capstone. The goal of this test was to determine if the current course could be modified to be more inclusive of students from all three pathways (PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science) with little to no disruption for current Engineering Design and Development teachers and students.
In this session, current Engineering Design and Development, PLTW Computer Science, and PLTW Biomedical Science teachers and participants are asked to provide feedback and insight on additional resources created to support a PLTW Common Capstone.
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn how PLTW Common Capstone builds on and enhances the current Engineering Design and Development curriculum.
- Learn how PLTW Common Capstone supports PLTW Computer Science students and teachers.
- Learn how PLTW Common Capstone supports PLTW Biomedical Science students and teachers.
Connecting Students to Industry: Leveraging Career-Based Learning Opportunities
Erin Dillon, Steve Peterson, Derek Read, and Keith Killebrew
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
A panel of industry and district partners, such as those featured in PLTW impact profiles, share insights into creating and leveraging career-based learning opportunities for students. Learn how being intentional about career-based learning experiences, as well as collaboration with industry and the community can make a difference for student success.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand how career-based learning can improve student outcomes.
- Gain strategies for creating or improving career-based learning opportunities.
- Gain strategies for establishing or improving partnerships with local industry and their community to provide career-based learning opportunities for students.
Improving Teacher and Student Performance with Informative and End-of-Course Assessments
April Moon, Jess Borges, Jonathan Smith, and Rachel Allard
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Biomedical Science, PreK-12 Leadership
In this session, you’ll learn how one district turned their students' End-of-Course (EoC) Assessment scores into a continuous improvement plan for their PLTW programs. The district's CTE leaders share how they analyzed their campuses PLTW EoC Assessment reports from different angles to identify areas for improvement and areas of strength. We’ll also look at different ways that district and high school leaders can help support their teachers through professional development opportunities related to Informative and EoC Assessments.
Participants completing the session will:
- See different professional development opportunities that districts can provide for their teachers to enable them to better prepare students for a successful EoC Assessment experience.
- Discuss the variety of ways that PLTW's student EoC Assessment performance reports and data can be analyzed to help districts identify areas of strength and areas for improvement.
- Learn how one district turned EoC Assessment scores into a continuous improvement plan.
Human Body Systems Update 2023
April Chancellor, Lauren Beeson, and Shannon Esposito
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
PLTW's Human Body Systems course is currently under revision for the fall of 2023. Join this session to learn about all the exciting updates coming soon!
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn how the revised Human Body Systems course will preserve elements of the existing course, as well as present students with new challenges, topics, and experiences.
- Examine the equipment and supplies needed to implement the course revision.
- Prepare for the transition to the new course in the 2023-24 school year.
Managing Biomedical Science Labs
Shannon Esposito, Julye Adams, and Kelly Woodruff
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
Learn best practices for managing your PLTW Biomedical Science labs.
Participants completing the session will:
- Discover best practices for planning and preparing general and specific PLTW Biomedical Science lab activities.
- Identify the best lab materials and tips for running and analyzing general and specific PLTW Biomedical Science labs.
- Recognize the connections between the vendors and the callouts in the curriculum on lab preparation, running, and analysis.
PLTW Biomedical Science: Who, What, When, and Where
Peggy Fowler and Kelly Webb
Track: PLTW Biomedical Science
Participants completing the session will:
Are looking for ways to implement a sustainable PLTW Biomedical Science program in your district? Join this session to see how educators from Palm Harbor University High School in Palm Harbor, Florida, started, sustained, and supported their PLTW Biomedical Science program from start to finish.
- Understand the outlining stage of implementation and planning for district support and training.
- See the day-to-day maintenance of the program and how ceremonies, student volunteer hours, and testing are integrated.
Learn fundraising tactics used by the administration and other support programs through the creation of an advisory board.
PLTW Summit 2022 is a new and improved event designed to meet educators where they are and give them the tools and tips to facilitate an engaging and actionable learning experience for their students.
Join the experience on Oct. 28-30, 2022 either onsite at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL or virtually through our engaging and accessible online platform. Registration includes access to general sessions, workshop sessions, guest speakers, sponsoring partners, networking opportunities, and more.
