The PLTW Engineering program provides an array of learning experiences designed to help students develop an engineering skillset and cultivate an engineering mindset.

• In each Engineering course, students are challenged with engaging real-world engineering experiences that simultaneously build knowledge, skills, and practices across four fundamental dimensions critical to effective engineering education:
  • Problem Solving and Creativity
    
  • Engineering Knowledge and Applications
    
  • Professional Practices
    
  • Career Learning
    
  
  
• Learning experiences in the PLTW ENG program embed active, hands-on and/or “minds-on” approaches into technology and tools that emphasize skill progression, developmental appropriateness, and industry relevance. Explore some innovative, interactive student learning experiences:
  • Warehouse Operations Multimedia
    
  • Water Testing Virtual Lab
    
  • Control Survey Loop GIS Map
    
  • Stormwater Management Story Map
    
  
  
• Distance Learning Support: Student courses are designed to help students easily navigate and engage in the learning experience regardless of the setting. The Teacher Guide supports the facilitation of activities, projects, and problems in flexible learning environments.
  • PLTW Distance Learning Support Resources
    
  
  

Learning experiences provide opportunities for students to develop higher-order skills, such as creative thinking, computational thinking, and ethical reasoning through processes such as inquiry and problem-solving. PLTW provides additional resources and practice for students as they apply Transportable Skills throughout the Engineering pathway.

• General Student Resources provide PLTW Engineering students guidance as they learn and apply transportable skills. Topics include preparing and delivering an effective presentation, applying the design process, practicing metacognition, applying ethical principles, providing peer feedback, and collaborating in teams.
  
• Ethics Quests are supplemental exercises designed to help students practice ethical decision-making.
  
• Discovery Quests provide students an opportunity to extend their learning beyond a specific course. Topics include empathy, conflict resolution, and digital citizenship.
  

Each PLTW Engineering course requires students to use multiple cross-discipline engineering tools and technology, such as spreadsheet applications and measuring devices. In addition, students use a wide variety of discipline-specific technology, as appropriate for the content.

• Examples include 3D printers, mechanical prototyping equipment, computer-aided design (CAD) software, breadboards, coding environments, microprocessors, circuit design software, surveying equipment, Geographic Information System (GIS), robotics, and flight simulation software, to name a few. 
  
• PLTW technical support includes detailed installation instructions and a Solution Center, to help you get student computers up and running for the school year.
  

PLTW Engineering engages students in authentic experiences that translate career awareness and exploration into career preparation and has the power to change misconceptions about engineers and engineering.

• Career Connections call attention to specific jobs, professional roles, disciplines or areas of specialty, or organizations related to the context of the activity, project, or problem in which they appear.
  
• In-depth professional profiles feature journeys of individuals working in specific career fields.
  • Asset Integrity Engineer
    
  • Biomedical Engineer
    
  • Flight Engineer
    
  • Mechanical Engineer
    
  • Software Engineer
    
  
  
• Supplemental podcasts provide students a peek into the lives of STEM professionals.
  

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Learning experiences are student-centered, active, and scaffolded using the activity, project, and problem based instructional approach. Activities, projects, and problems develop student problem-solving skills and give students opportunities to apply knowledge and skills in relevant, purposeful ways. Students in the PLTW Engineering pathway actively engage in activities as they acquire knowledge and skills. They are given the chance to apply what they learned in innovative and engaging projects and problems.

APB Instructional Approach

The Teacher as Facilitator

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PLTW ENG courses address knowledge and skills in a variety of engineering career areas, including civil, electrical, mechanical, aeronautical, industrial, manufacturing, and bioengineering. PLTW ENG courses connect to the following national standards:

• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
  
• Common Core Mathematics
  
• Common Core English Language Arts
  
• Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy

Detailed frameworks outline not only the core content a course covers, but they also showcase connections to in-demand, transportable skills such as communication, problem-solving, ethical reasoning, and collaboration. This alignment ensures that students learn skills that are increasingly important in the rapidly advancing, innovative workplace.

PLTW’s Computer Science Principles can be taken as part of the Engineering pathway. Explore the course outline and the other PLTW Computer Science courses. 

A Taste of Computer Science 

PLTW creates and delivers engaging, relevant, and effective student learning experiences that inspire lifelong learning. PLTW students gain in-demand knowledge and skills informed by research, educators, and industry professionals. Explore the other pathways and learn about additional professional development opportunities. 

PLTW.org

PLTW Blogs

inspirED, a podcast from PLTW