2011-12 School Year Curriculum Now Available 

The 2011-12 school year release of all PLTW curriculum is now available through the Virtual Academy (VA). To ensure program quality, including exam alignment, all PLTW teachers are required to use this release for course instruction at their schools throughout the academic year.

Access the Curriculum

• Login to the VA.
• On the VA home page, click on a course name for details on how to download the CHM files.
• When available, student versions of the course curriculum may also be accessed from this location.
• Please email Technical Support  if you have any issues downloading the curriculum files.

Course Revisions

Minor changes have been made throughout all courses to improve and enhance the user experience and the newest versions of the curriculum will provide the most current supporting documents and resources. All BMS courses have also been updated to include activity options utilizing Vernier Logger Pro software.

The following courses have undergone significant revisions:

Aerospace Engineering (AE) and Engineering Design and Development (EDD)

• While the majority of the concepts for these courses remain in place, new and exciting projects and problems have been created to engage students. Additional supporting documents have been added to each course for both teachers and students.
• If you are already trained to teach AE and EDD, a virtual update for these courses is available via the VA.
• Teachers must review the course revisions prior to fall classes as these revisions will require updates to your classroom materials and equipment. Review the Purchasing Manual to be sure your classrooms are properly equipped.

Medical Interventions (MI)

• While the majority of the concepts of the course are unchanged, exciting enhancements have been added to existing course materials and activities. Projects and problems have been revised to reflect teacher feedback and support appropriate pacing.
• Teachers must review the course revisions prior to fall classes as these revisions will require updates to your classroom materials and equipment. Review the Purchasing Manual to be sure your classrooms are properly equipped.

Biomedical Innovation (BI)

• While the majority of the concepts for the course remain in place, new and exciting projects and problems have been created to engage students. Additional supporting documents have been added for both teachers and students.
• Highlights of the major changes include:
  
  Problem 1: Design of an Effective ER has been refined to clarify parameters of final problem.
  
  Problem 4: Environmental Health has been redesigned to include all aspects of environmental health and no longer solely focuses on water contamination.
  
  Problem 8: Independent Project has been updated to include additional resources for teachers and students.   
• Teachers of BI should continue to submit feedback on the course to the PLTW curriculum staff during the 2011-2012 academic year.
• Teachers must review the course revisions prior to fall classes as these revisions will require updates to your classroom materials and equipment. Review the  Purchasing Manual to be sure your classrooms are properly equipped.

Reminders

• Schools that are offering GTT, POE, CIM, DE and/or AE should closely review the VEX Robotics Equipment and ROBOTC Software Transition Fact Sheet to understand the implications of this transition to their programs.
• Schools that are offering the BMS program now have the option to use Vernier Logger Pro software to support data acquisition and analysis. Closely review the Biomedical Sciences Software Update Fact Sheet to understand the implications and your options.

Place Your Orders for ROBOTC Software Licenses 

Schools offering Principles of Engineering (POE), Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Aerospace Engineering (AE) and/or Gateway To Technology's (GTT) Automation and Robotics (AR) unit with the VEX Robotics platform should place their orders for ROBOTC software licenses as soon as possible.

Place an Order

• Complete the order form on the ROBOTC tab of either the ENGR Vendor Workbook or GTT Vendor Workbook, found in the PLTW Purchasing Manual.
• Follow the software download and installation instructions in the email sent to the designated contact(s).

Reminders

• ROBOTC is the PLTW adopted and supported programming software used with the VEX Robotics platform.
• To support schools through the transition to the VEX Robotics platform, PLTW will subsidize the entire $200 annual license for all schools who order and activate licenses for the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years.
• ROBOTC software licenses should be ordered by using the form in the Purchasing Manual and not placed on any purchase orders.

For more information regarding the transition to the VEX Robotics platform and ROBOTC software, visit the VEX Robotics Equipment and ROBOTC Software Transition Fact Sheet or contact School Relations.

Reminders: Info Updates, Parts Lists, Resources 

Delegates 

• Update your email address and phone number (if necessary). 
• Make sure the addresses and phone numbers of your participating schools are current.
• Update principal and counselor information (if necessary).
• Verify that only active teachers and schools are listed (unless the school is otherwise noted as deactivated).

• Update your email address and phone number (if necessary). 
• Indicate the courses you will be instructing during the 2011-12 academic year.

VEX/ROBOTC Instructional Video Series
To provide instructional support and professional development opportunities to teachers who are transitioning to the VEX Robotics platform, the VEX/ROBOTC Instructional Video Series is available in the Robotics Platform Resources section on the Virtual Academy.