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Coming Soon...
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These topics will be among those included in upcoming issues of the Action Bulletin:
· August release of 2011-12 curriculum
· Counselor conferences
· Year-end assessment reports
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Action Bulletin Archive
| Past issues of the Action Bulletin are available on the PLTW Web site.
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Welcome to the latest edition of the Action Bulletin, your source for up-to-date information and reminders to successfully implement and sustain your PLTW program.
There are several items that are new and require your attention: - The curriculum for this summer's Core Training is available through the Virtual Academy.
- We're pleased to report that the overall costs for implementing a PLTW program are down 15-20% over the past two years.
- As an existing district, you may add any new schools and/or programs through the PLTW Extranet before Wednesday, June 15.
Also, if you haven't read the last edition of the Action Bulletin or are new to our mailing list, we encourage you to review it for information and resources on assessments plus details on Virtual Academy updates.
An Action Bulletin archive is now available in the Virtual Academy under the Welcome section as well as in the Program Support section of the PLTW Web site.
As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. Please email them to Action Bulletin Editor Trevor Sparks. |
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Program Cost Reductions
| | No one, it seems, can escape the financial realities facing virtually all school districts. The fact that you, in broad numbers, continue to support the PLTW program as part of your course offerings in the face of this economic crunch is truly appreciated.
We work hard to provide great value for the PLTW program. Over the past two years, the costs associated with a PLTW program have dropped between 15-21%.
Most notably, the overall cost of implementing:
- Gateway To Technology (GTT) has dropped 15%.
- Pathway To Engineering (PTE) has dropped 18%.
- Biomedical Sciences (BMS) has dropped 21%.
Cost reductions over the past two years include:
- POE and GTT kit prices have each dropped 13%.
- Autodesk Design Academy (ADA) and Inventor software lease costs are down 20%.
- Inventor software for middle schools has dropped 25%.
- Many other kits and items have been reduced as well.
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Core Training Curriculum Available Through VA
| | Core Training Curriculum is now available to the PLTW network through the Virtual Academy (VA).
Key Points:- It is imperative and required that all Core Training Instructors and participants use the updated Core Training curriculum.
- All teachers, regardless of their participation in Core Training, are encouraged to review this release as they prepare for the upcoming school year.
- All curriculum CHM files have been updated from the previously posted 2010-11 academic year version and most have undergone slight revisions since Core Training Prep in April.
- On August 1, the 2011-12 academic school year curriculum CHM files will be released to the PLTW Network through the VA.
- To ensure program quality, including exam alignment, all PLTW teachers are required to use the August release for course instruction at their schools throughout the 2011-12 academic year.
- If you are offering GTT, POE, CIM, DE and/or AE -- or plan to for the first time in the 2011-12 school year -- it is imperative that you closely review the VEX Robotics Equipment and ROBOTC Software Transition Fact Sheet to understand equipment and software options.
- If you are offering courses from the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) program -- or plan to for the first time in the 2011-12 school year -- closely review the Biomedical Sciences Software Update Fact Sheet to understand your software options.
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PLTW VEX Parts Lists Now Available
| | Parts lists for the PLTW VEX kits (AE, DE, POE and GTT) as well as the VEX Classroom Lab Kit upgrades (for GTT and POE) are now available on the Purchasing Manual Web page and Virtual Academy.
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New School and Program Registration for Existing Districts Ends Next Week
| | School Districts that are currently offering PLTW programs may add new schools and/or new programs (GTT, PTE or BMS) through the PLTW Extranet before Wednesday, June 15. Contact School Relations if you have questions or need assistance.
Registration for brand new School Districts closed on Monday, June 6.
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Your To-Do List: Reminders for Schools
| | Submit Your Purchase Orders Before Your Summer Break
- To ensure timely delivery for fall PLTW classes, visit the Purchasing Manual to order your equipment, supplies and software.
- Some items may take six to eight weeks to ship, so please plan accordingly.
- Contact Product Sales if you have questions or need assistance.
Register Your Teachers for Core Training
- Teachers must successfully complete a Core Training session for each PLTW course they plan to teach in the 2011-12 school year.
- District Delegates must add teachers to the PLTW Extranet in order for them to take the necessary pre-assessments and register for Core Training.
- Once a Core Training session has started, teachers will be unable to register for that session.
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