Project Lead the Way

by John Pokoski

A few years ago, then Dean Torbert asked me to fill in for him at a meeting of the NH advisory board for Project Lead the Way (PLTW). PLTW is a national program forming partnerships among Public Schools, Higher Education Institutions and the Private Sector to increase the quantity and quality of engineers and engineering technologists graduating from our educational system. Very quickly, I became quite impressed with the organization at both the national and New Hampshire levels. Although high school students know a bit about some of the sciences and math, they generally know very little about engineering. This program involves a pre-set package of courses, laboratories, and teacher training to allow high school students to learn what engineers do and how they do it. For example, one course and lab is very similar to our EE543 Introduction to Digital Systems. Another involves CAD/CAM design and production of mechanical parts. The program should interest some students in pursuing an engineering career, while others will find out it is not for them. This should eventually increase engineering enrollment at the college level and reduce drop-out rates.

There are currently eight New Hampshire high schools participating, and the list is slowly but surely growing. Direction is provided by an amazingly energetic advisory council that includes school superintendents and teachers, representatives of UNH, NHTI and the NH Dept. of Education, active and retired businessmen and engineers, and others who unselfishly donate their time and effort. Twice (most recently last April) we have brought large numbers of PLTW students to UNH for a special open house. There has been very favorable publicity on Channels 9 and 11 as well as in many local newspapers.

If you are interested in the program, check out www.pltw.org. Or drop me an email at john.pokoski@unh.edu.