Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District News Article

HMS Students Get Empowered, Inspired By Project Lead the Way

Sound exciting? Outside the box? It should.

Roxboro and Monticello middle schools are both in their second year offering PLTW as an elective option for 7^th and 8^th graders. Because the two middle schools are currently combined under one roof, the PLTW classroom has combined as well, with Amy Statler and Dianna Neal team-teaching their eight Gateway to Technology classes. They currently offer the Design and Modeling module and plan to offer one additional module for next year’s 8^th graders. They’ve also proposed an Introduction to STEM course for incoming 6^th graders.

According to Ms. Statler, PLTW takes a “human-centered approach.” To kick off the unit on designing an orthopedic shoe, the students had the chance to listen to an orthotist from the Veterans Affairs Hospital talk about real patients with cerebral palsy and the impact that shoes and orthopedic devices can have on a person’s ability to lead a full life. “The students really had to think about what a patient might need or want to be able to do, and then design the shoe specifically for them. They were particularly inspired by the stories about children.”

In addition to mastering the steps of the design process, students have learned how hard it is to bring their ideas to fruition. “I had a great idea for the shoe project,” said 7^th grader Jervon Cole, “But I was focused too much on comfort and it didn't help the person the way I wanted it to.”

Eighth grader Graham Anderson-Reitz had a similar experience when he designed a wallet for a classmate as a get-to-know-you project at the beginning of the year. “It turned out better in my head than it did in real life.”

Despite some real world disappointments, students are enthusiastic about the class. Olivia Gettis, another 7^th grader, enrolled because she’s “more of a visual and hands-on learner than paper and pencil.” Jervon chose it because he “hopes to be an architect or engineer or something of that nature” when he grows up.

The course has impacted how the students look at the world around them. Seventh grader Devyn Etling said, “You might look at an object and think it was easy to build, but when you actually break it down and think about every little step, you realize how much time and effort it took.”

Both teachers hope their students will continue with PLTW courses when they transition to high school, where it’s offered as part of the Career and Technical Education program and includes the option for students to earn college credit. And even if a student missed the opportunity to take PLTW courses in middle school, they still have the chance to do so in high school, as it’s not a prerequisite.

In the meantime, Ms. Neal is excited for the upcoming Pringles project. “Students will mail their Pringle to a school in California whose students will then evaluate each one based on the amount of damage done to the chip. And we’ll receive their Pringles and have the chance to evaluate the effectiveness of their packaging designs.”

Because the course is project-based, students are often working in groups and using their hands to manipulate computers and materials that have been donated or purchased with grant dollars. Jack Keller appreciates the fact that the teachers “trust us to use real tools, like Exacto-knives” and that they have the opportunity to take apart and explore everything from telephones to computer towers.

The door to the classroom is often open to the hallway and Ms. Statler reports that many students walk by and poke their heads in to ask, “What’re you guys doing in there?” This brief glimpse at their schoolmates engaged in learning while designing, building, and exploring serves as the best possible recruitment tool for Project Lead the Way.