Over the summer, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) held a contest in which participants submitted blog posts detailing their Core Training experiences. Below is an entry by one of our three contest winners. Enjoy!
This summer, I attended two PLTW Core Training courses – Design and Modeling (DM) and Introduction to Computer Science (ICS). My overall experiences with both courses were outstanding, but I want to specifically refer to my ICS Core Training at San Diego State University (SDSU).
SDSU went above and beyond my expectations. From the moment I registered to the end of the course, everything was well organized and thought out in detail. For my future PLTW Core Trainings, I will be seeking to reserve a spot at SDSU.
My Master Teachers were phenomenal. Tri and Lucille demonstrated co-teaching at its finest. It appeared as if they had been co-teaching with one another for many years. Every day, the Master Teachers would suggest that we partner with someone new in the course. I look back at this small notion and am so grateful that I was able to work with so many wonderful fellow PLTW Teachers.
The rigor of the course was challenging and intense but doable especially because our overall classroom dynamic was full of support and encouragement. By the end of the course, we (the participants) became a team rather than individuals working on our own. The networking and building of meaningful relationships during Core Training was only the beginning, and I feel that it will continue to grow for years to come. I am honored that I get to be a part of such a great teaching community that inspires our children for the future.