As part of a class assignment, students from Triangle Math and Science Academy in Cary, North Carolina, shared their experiences in PLTW Biomedical Science and how they’ve overcome challenges, gained new perspectives, learned to ask for help, and more.
Jawad Syed is a junior who has taken three PLTW Biomedical Science courses and is considering a career as a physical therapist.
The PLTW program has had a very positive effect on me. I have taken Principles of Biomedical Science, Human Body Systems, and Medical Interventions. During my freshman year, I took both biology and Principles of Biomedical Science. On more than one occasion, the PLTW course helped me better understand the topics that we were learning in my biology course.
Similarly, I am currently taking AP Biology along with Medical Interventions, and the PLTW course has helped me better understand the material in AP Biology. In my experience, PLTW classes really enhance and strengthen your knowledge of the Common Core subjects.
In PLTW classes, students become more independent to complete the coursework and do not depend as much on the teacher. For me, I believe that this was an important skill to learn and carry with me throughout the rest of high school.
Before I took my first PLTW course, I was in middle school and was asking my parents and teachers for help quite often. However, PLTW classes made me realize that I had to be more independent and responsible with my work, and I like to think that I carried that independence with me to other high school courses, and in all other aspects of life.
Overall, my experience with PLTW was helpful and has made me a better person.
Hannah Sturdivant is an aspiring trauma surgeon who is taking Principles of Biomedical Science and enjoys playing basketball and spending time with friends and family.
This is my first year taking a PLTW course, and Principles of Biomedical Science has been very fun. The first week of school, we started off looking at a fictional crime scene and collecting data. In every unit, we examined a piece of that data to see if we could discover why Anna (the fictitious character) had died.
Principles of Biomedical Science has helped me with my everyday life. I have learned so much from this course, but I have also struggled a bit. Some advice that I want to give other students who take this course in the future is to remember the basics and don't stress. The basics you learn in the beginning of the course will help you get through all the different units.
Now that it’s getting closer to the end of the school year, I’m excited to continue taking the PLTW Biomedical Science courses!
Sekou Samoura is a sophomore who is taking Medical Interventions, plays basketball, and aspires to be a forensic pathologist.
Over the course of my two years as a PLTW Biomedical Science student, I have experienced highs and lows. Like most courses, you will hit some rough spots but none that you can’t overcome. In my first course, Medical Interventions, I struggled to engage in the subject because of a lack of understanding. But with help from my fellow students and wonderful teacher, I managed to grasp the content and flourish beyond my expectations.
Although I am not the best student, I have gained an amazing work ethic from this course and have become among the better performing students. Medical Interventions helped me thrive beyond this class – in Science Olympiad, chemistry, and more. I encourage other students to ask for help when encountering a challenge or a rough patch like I did.
Asiah Ali is a sophomore and an aspiring cardiac surgeon who is taking Principles of Biomedical Science.
This school year was my first time taking PLTW. I'm really glad I took Principles of Biomedical Science, because I have learned so much from it.
My whole life, I have always known that I wanted to be in the medical field – whether I become a surgeon, a doctor, or something else. In Principles of Biomedical Science, we did so many labs and activities that really helped me understand the concept of what we were learning.
We learned about the heart and the different things it did, and, for once, I really felt like I was getting closer to becoming a cardiac surgeon.
The biggest thing PLTW did for me was help me pass my actual biology class. In my biology class, I wasn't understanding anything, and neither were any of my classmates.
One day, I walked into the class and saw that the board had transcription and translation written on it, and when the class started, I actually knew what the teacher was talking about.
I felt so grateful to have been taking this PLTW class - and I passed the biology test when it came around.
PLTW’s blog intends to serve as a forum for ideas and perspectives from across our network. The opinions expressed are those of each guest author.