PLTW: The Action Bulletin for Schools

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Assessment Reminders
Master Teacher Team
School Reminders

Action Bulletin Archive

Past issues of the Action Bulletin are available on the PLTW Web site.

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Thursday, November 10

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 is just one new item for your attention:

  • The application for teachers to become Master Teachers is now available.

Also, the Fall/Winter Assessment Period opened this week so please review this week's reminders and contact our School Support Team with any questions.

 

Catch up with previous issues for more information and reminders about the program.

 

An Action Bulletin archive is available in the Virtual Academy under the Welcome section as well as in the Program Support section of the PLTW Web site.

 

We want your feedback on the Action Bulletin. Are you receiving the information you need in a timely fashion? What are the topics you would like us to cover? Send your comments to Trevor Sparks.

End of Course Assessment Reminders

The Fall/Winter testing season opened this week. Please review the reminders below as you prepare for this current testing period.

 

Fall/Winter Assessment Period
The Fall/Winter Assessments period will remain open through March 16, 2012.

 

Engineering Formula Sheets
The new 2011-12 engineering formula sheets have been posted:

IEP/504 Accommodation Request Forms
All IEP/504 accommodation request forms need to be sent to PLTW four weeks prior to your testing date. Go to the Materials section of the PLTW Extranet for a copy of the form and details on this policy.

 

2011-12 Login Credentials
New 2011-12 login credentials for the Assessment System were emailed on October 17. If you did not receive your new login for the current school year, please contact the School Support Team.

 

If you have any questions or need more information about PLTW's End of Course assessments, visit our Assessment & Evaluation Web page, review Frequently Asked Questions or contact our School Support Team.

Join the PLTW Master Teacher Team

PLTW is seeking innovative teachers to join our Core Training Instructor (CTI) team. We are currently recruiting Master Teachers for the following courses:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Biotechnical Engineering
  • Engineering Design and Development
  • Principles of the Biomedical Sciences

Benefits include:

  • Collaborating with and learning from some of the most dedicated and talented educators in the country.
  • Attending professional development sponsored by PLTW.
  • Participating in the PLTW curriculum revision process and receiving the latest field test curriculum before it is available to our network of schools.
  • Receiving training in the latest course software and equipment.
  • Connecting with university faculty who specialize in STEM-related fields.

Apply through the PLTW Extranet by December 1. If you have any questions or need more information, contact Laura Greenaway.

Reminders: Counselor Conferences, Extranet Updates, Software Orders and Program Registration 

Counselor Conferences 

A PLTW Counselor Conference is a professional development opportunity designed to inform school counselors, post-secondary advisors, principals, teachers and school administrators about PLTW's STEM Education program and provide information to help encourage students to enroll in PLTW courses.

 

Schools that have implemented a PLTW program are required to send at least one advisor/counselor to a Counselor Conference every year. We highly recommend that schools send all of their advisors/counselors to at least one conference.

 

Visit the Counselor Conference page for dates and locations. Registration is handled by the host institution.

 

Additional dates and locations will be added as they become available. For more information, contact the host institution or Laura Greenaway.

 

PLTW Extranet Updates
Your assistance in maintaining accurate school and district information in the PLTW Extranet is important and greatly appreciated.

 

Delegates

  • Check your district's and schools' information in the PLTW Extranet.
  • Make any necessary school deactivation requests, teacher removal requests and contact information updates for the district and all registered schools.

Teachers

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

If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the School Support Team.

 

Software Orders If you haven't ordered the software needed for your PLTW courses, we recommend you do so as soon as possible. 

  • Schools offering Pathway To Engineering courses should contact their Authorized Autodesk Reseller to order the required Autodesk software for the 2011-12 school year. More information on the required software for the courses you're offering is available in the Additional Resources section of the PLTW Purchasing Manual page. 
  • Schools offering POE, CIM, AE and/or the AR unit of GTT with the VEX Robotics platform should place their order for the ROBOTC software licenses as soon as possible by using the form on the ROBOTC tab of either the ENGR Vendor Workbook or GTT Vendor Workbook on the PLTW Purchasing Manual Web page. ROBOTC orders should not be placed on any purchase orders. Download and installation instructions will be emailed to the designated contact(s). Please allow three weeks to complete this process.

New School and Program Registration 

New school and program registration for the 2012-13 school year opened in September.

 

District Delegates

  • District Delegates now may login to the Delegate Console of the PLTW Extranet to add new schools or new curricular programs (Pathway To Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, or Gateway To Technology) to their districts.
  • The deadline for adding new schools and programs from within the PLTW Extranet is June 30, 2012.
  • However, it is recommended that new schools and programs are added by March 15, 2012 when Core Training registration opens so that teachers may reserve seats at the training sessions of their choice.

Schools

A New School Press Release Template is available for schools implementing a new PLTW program. By completing this template with school information, schools have a ready-made tool to promote their programs to local media outlets.