INDIANAPOLIS - Project Lead The Way (PLTW) announces Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., as its newest affiliate partner. Bucknell joins approximately 50 other colleges, universities, and research institutions providing support for PLTW and its network of more than 5,000 schools in the United States. As an affiliate partner, Bucknell will work with PLTW to support and grow K-12 STEM programs in Pennsylvania.
“Project Lead The Way is thrilled to partner with such a highly-regarded university as Bucknell,” said PLTW President and CEO Dr. Vince Bertram. “STEM education has never been more crucial for our country, and Bucknell is exactly the kind of partner we seek to help us further our mission of preparing students for the global economy.”
Bucknell is the largest liberal arts university in the United States, and at the same time boasts renowned departments of education, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and a highly ranked College of Engineering. Bucknell’s engineering faculty are internationally recognized for their study of engineering pedagogy, including how best to create student-centered learning environments and to encourage educators to take advantage of best practices in engineering education.
“There is a growing awareness in the U.S. of the need to promote STEM education, and particularly engineering education, to satisfy current and future economic demands and to encourage greater technical literacy,” said Keith Buffinton, dean of the College of Engineering at Bucknell. “PLTW has created an outstanding program to support STEM education in middle and high schools, and Bucknell feels a responsibility to support them in their efforts.”
Erin Jablonski, associate professor of chemical engineering, added, “This partnership gives Bucknell the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing STEM educators at the middle and high school level. We’re excited about the opportunity to interact with those talented teachers who come here for training, take their passion back to their classrooms, and help to build a network of aspiring engineers.”
Bucknell University has a history of supporting STEM education. The university’s College of Engineering supports a number of outreach initiatives, including a summer engineering camp, hosting TEAMS competitions – annual competitions for middle and high school students focused around engineering challenges – and partnering with local schools for introductory engineering course projects.
Affiliate universities and partners are an integral part of the PLTW experience. They host PLTW professional development training programs, which are required for each course a PLTW teacher instructs. Affiliates also host annual conferences for school administrators and counselors, as well as provide ongoing support to PLTW schools.
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About PLTW Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs. PLTW’s world-class, activity-, project-, and problem-based curriculum and high-quality teacher professional development model, combined with an engaged network of educators and corporate partners, help students develop the skills needed to succeed in our global economy. More than 5,000 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are currently offering PLTW courses to their students. For more information, visit www.pltw.org.
About Bucknell University
Founded in 1846 and located along the banks of the Susquehanna River in historic Lewisburg, Pa., Bucknell University is the largest and one of the most highly ranked liberal arts universities in the country. Students can choose from more than 110 majors and minors in the arts, engineering, humanities, management, and social and natural sciences, as well as extensive global study, service-learning and research opportunities. Bucknell’s 3,500 undergraduate and 100 graduate students from across the world enjoy a low 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio and 150 students clubs and organizations plus 27 Division I athletic teams.