Project Lead The Way Launch Program

Jeanine Flinton – Galway CSD

Jim Nair – Saratoga Springs CSD

How Launch works:Engineering (2 Modules per grade)

Biomedical (1 Module per grade)

Computer Science (1 Module per grade)

Launch as a Curriculum Element

Activity, Project-Problem Based Learning Approach (APB)

Activities, projects and problems are introduced by posing essential questions and are accompanied by reading fictional or non-fiction text. Students then explore, design and build utilizing the Engineering Design Process.

PLTW’s Activities, Project-, and Problem-Based (APB) learning approach allows students to engage in meaningful collaborative learning.

PLTW’s APB based learning approach scaffolds student learning, building the required skill sets to apply toward an open-ended design problem.

PLTW’s APB learning approach centers on hands-on, real-worldprojects that help students understand how the information and skills they are learning in the classroom may be applied in everyday life.

Introduction of “Real World” ProblemMeet Mylo, Angelina and Suzi

Activity

ACTIVITIES afford students acquisition of skills and content knowledge.

Projects

PROJECTS are related to the design challenge/problem and provide opportunities for meaning-making.

ProblemPROBLEMS provide opportunities for students

to transfer the new knowledge and skills they gained from previous activities and projects in a real-world setting.

The Design Process

The Design Process

ask

explore

model

evaluate

explain

What is the problem? What information do I already know, and what information do I need to know?

Brainstorm solutions; learn new skills; sketch ideas.

Work collaboratively to select the best possible solution and build a model.

How can I conduct a fair test of the model? What are my solution’s strengths and weaknesses?

Explain how your model solves (or doesn’t solve) the problem. How can it be improved.

Explain Strengths, Weaknesses and How to Improve Your Solution

An attempt to solve a problem that has no clear/best solution. There is “no right answer”.

The Launch ClassroomLooks and sounds very different from a traditional classroom.

Best Practices for Classroom Environment

Best Practices for Classroom Management

Best Practices for OrganizingSupplies

Best Practices for OrganizingVEX Kits

Launch Log & ResourcesGreat tool for formative and summative assessment.

Kindergarten Structure and Function Exploring Design Pushes and Pulls Structure and Function Human Body Animals and Algorithms

First Grade Light and Sound Light: Observing the Sun, Moon and Stars Animal Adaptations Animated Storytelling

Second Grade Material Science: Properties of Matter Material Science : Form and Function The Changing Earth Grids and Games

Third Grade Stability and Motion: Science of Flight Stability and Motion: Forces and Interactions Variation of Traits Programming Patterns

Fourth Grade Energy: Collisions Energy: Conversion Input/Output Computer Systems Input/Output Human Brain

Fifth Grade Robotics and Automation Robotics and Automation: Challenge Infection Detection Infection: Modeling and Simulation

Networking Session

Thank you for your time and attention.

Jeanine Flintonjmflinton@galwaycsd.org

Jim Nairj_nair@saratogaschools.org