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 Computer Science track, and head over to pltw.org/summit to add sessions to your PLTW Summit agenda!
Bringing Cybersecurity to Your School Safely with PLTW
Randy Mills
Track: PLTW Computer Science
There will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2025. There is an opportunity to give our students the chance to fill those high-tech positions. Schools and districts can be nervous about this class. In this session we’ll take a look at the PLTW Computer Science, cybersecurity curriculum and develop plans to bring this to those reluctant schools and districts. Growing these programs is exciting and will provide deeper computer science programs around the country.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the curriculum and how it fits into a broad computer science program.
- Understand the APB design process as it applies and is connected to cybersecurity.
- Develop an “elevator speech” as a way to share the value and need for the cybersecurity class in their schools and districts.
Continuous Improvement Through Formative Assessments in Computer Science
Nimmi Arunachalam
Track: PLTW Computer Science
Summative assessments are of learning while formative assessments are for learning. Join this session to discuss the various types of formative assessments that are effective in a computer science classroom of diverse learners and how they can be deployed for continuous improvements in student learning. Workshop materials sourced from Computer Science in K-12, an A-Z handbook on teaching programming, edited by Dr. Shuchi Grover.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the difference between summative and formative assessments in general, and specifically with teaching computer science.
- Learn about the various formative assessments that are possible in the computer science classroom and understand the formative assessment matrix to pick the right formative assessment for the purpose.
- Learn to create a specific type of formative assessment called Parsons Problems and develop a few Parsons Problems during the workshop session.
Effective Use of the AP Computer Science Principles Create Task Rubric
David Czechowski
Track: PLTW Computer Science
You may ask yourself, “How do I grade this code assignment?” In this session, we’ll see how the AP Create Task Rubric can be a helpful tool for more than just the AP Exam. We’ll investigate how to use the AP Written Responses throughout the course as opportunities for students to practice communicating about their code and their understanding of Principles of Computer Science.
Participants completing the session will:
- Evaluate creative programming activities with a rubric.
- Integrate appropriate AP Create Task Prompts to have students practice communicating about code.
- Prepare students for the final AP Exam Create Task.
Electronic Notebooks For Success in Computer Science
Randy Mills and Julie Wood
Track: PLTW Computer Science
The pandemic has made teachers look for new ways to connect with kids and electronic notebooks and portfolios have been one way to keep the connection alive. This session focuses on best practices for creating electronic notebooks, including ways to make electronic notebooks more accessible for all students and ways that students can keep their notebooks to serve as the building blocks for a broader portfolio. Participants are encouraged to bring examples and/or a curriculum to use as we explore different techniques for different LMS systems, as well as different approaches to creating the notebooks.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the different ways of creating and presenting electronic notebooks to their students.
- Create a notebook that addresses different modalities and accommodations.
- Create a sample from your own curriculum as a model.
Stop Teaching Loops the Same Way Over and Over and Expecting Different Results!
David Czechowski
Track: PLTW Computer Science
Iterative loops in App Inventor, VEXcode, Python, and Java are foundational, powerful, and cognitively dense. This session considers the three ways loops are used in code and how we might apply Cognitive Load Theory to reduce the mental demands of reading and writing loops to support student learning.
Participants completing the session will:
- Evaluate and identify the three applications of loops in code.
- Summarize key takeaways from Cognitive Load Theory.
- Be able to assist students with mentally "chunking" loops to make reading and writing loops in code easier.
Vex Driver's Ed!
Andrew Woods
Track: PLTW Computer Science
Learn how to supplement the Computer Science Essentials self-driving cehicle using VEX's Virtual Robot. Develop an understanding of the coding concepts being taught with the self-driving vehicle and how to model those with your students with a "We Do"/"You Do” cumulating unit. See how VEX VR can be used in a 100 percent virtual environment or in the classroom to supplement PLTW's self-driving vehicle work in Unit 2.1.
Participants completing the session will:
- Know how the VEX Virtual Robot can enhance the Computer Science Essentials curriculum.
- Understand how students develop a deeper understanding of coding principles and robotic coding.
- Learn how to use Google Slides to deliver content.
Promoting PLTW Programs
Julie Wood, Susan Jones, and Carol Bonn
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering
High school students have many options to choose from when selecting classes. We want to make sure that the PLTW CS and Engineering classes are enticing, rigorous, and informative for our students, their parents, and counselors and administrators. In order to do this, we as the course teachers often have to “take our classes on the road”. In this session we will talk about several ways to promote your programs in a fun and informative way.
Participants completing the session will:
- Participants will be able to understand the different ways of recruiting for their PLTW classes.
- Participants will be able to learn about some of the different extra curricular activities that support their PLTW classes.
- Participants will discuss their own experiences with promotion of their PLTW courses.
Software Developer Apprenticeship - Our Story After One Year
Doyle Massey
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering
Join us to learn how we created a Software Developer Apprenticeship partnership from the ground up. In this session, you can listen and ask questions to representatives from the school district and a Fortune 500 company about their experiences in this endeavor. The session also covers how and why we created the partnership, the obstacles that we had to overcome to allow high school students to be successful in this apprenticeship, and feedback from both students and our business partner one year later.
Participants completing the session will:
- Understand the course requirements for students to participate in the apprenticeship along with the skills that they are expected to know.
- Hear from our community partner on the computer science practices being taught in the classroom and how they apply to the real world.
- Learn about how the district was able to find the community partners to create this apprenticeship.
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.
Robotics Teams: Leveraging PLTW Classroom Experiences to Support Robotics Teams
Philip Youngblood and Matt Anderson
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Gateway
Come learn how to tap into your PLTW programs to build and enhance your robotics team experiences. See how our district has built robotics classes around our PLTW programs, and how to implement classroom knowledge and skills to support your robotics teams. Maximize the value of your PLTW investment and discuss how successful robotics teams can widen your program exposure and help tap into other community resources.
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn how to enhance PLTW pathways with robotics class and see how we use the VEX platform to get students started with competition robots, programming, and skills challenges in class.
- Learn what skills and knowledge students can implement in a competition robot environment. These include CAD/CAM modeling, design process, electronics, programming, teamwork, machining, CNC, and much more.
- Discuss how robotics teams can help widen exposure in your community and promote your programs.
The Power of Gaming: Enhancing Your Program with eSports, Gaming, and Game Design
Nathan Nolte and Jerry Iserloth
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, PLTW Gateway
Gaming is more popular than ever. How can you tap into this common interest of both your current and potential PLTW students? Find out how esports, gaming, and game design can enhance and expand the reach of your PLTW program. From incorporating game design into current PLTW courses to starting a co-curricular competitive scholastic esports program, there are many ways to enhance your PLTW and STEM programs with gaming and game design.
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn how gaming and game design can be incorporated into the PLTW classroom.
- Learn about starting and running a co-curricular esports program.
- Learn about making connections with colleges and the community through esports and gaming programs.
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.
A Hands-on Introduction to Game Design and Development, Part 1
Sheila Robles, Carol Kinnard, Mark Davis , Wyatt Dumas, Susan Jones
Track: PLTW Computer Science
Get hands-on with the Game Design and Development module and sample the teacher training materials with guidance from PLTW curriculum developers. Don’t worry if you’ve already worked through the training materials! This is a great time to explore additional features to make your Roblox games more engaging.
Participants completing the session will:
- Learn what the Game Design and Development module is all about.
- Work through teacher training materials.
- Understand how to implement the Game Design and Development module in your classroom.
Program a pi-top: A New Option for Digital Electronics Unit 4
Carol Kinnard, Gerald Holt, Christopher Patterson, Sheila Robles, and Wyatt Dumas
Tracks: PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering
Explore the latest enhancement to Digital Electronics Unit 4. We’ll introduce you to the pi-top, a device based on the Raspberry Pi minicomputer. The pi-top combines digital making and Python coding so your students can make portable real-world systems that can go anywhere. In this session, you will learn about the pi-top see many of the projects your students will build throughout the unit, including a demonstration of Unit 4's culminating problem, an escape room. All participants should bring a laptop to this session. Optional: Bring a pi-top with the Electronics Kit.
Participants completing the session will:
- Create logic using a programming language.
- Design, interpret, and/or modify a state machine based on specific design requirements to communicate the design.
- Generate multiple potential solution concepts.
PLTW Common Capstone - Open Review
Jason Rausch, 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, 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, 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.
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.
