This post is written by Project Lead The Way, a Diamond Level sponsor of the 2018 Advance CTE Fall Meeting.
If learners don’t know what’s possible, they can’t explore opportunities available to them and pursue paths that position them to thrive.
It is because of this that Project Lead The Way (PLTW) believes every student deserves access to high-quality career learning experiences – that is, learning experiences that show students the array of opportunities that exist and empower them to develop the knowledge and skills they need to take advantage of those opportunities.
PLTW’s Career Learning Approach
To support our career learning philosophy, PLTW provides transformative learning experiences for students and teachers across the United States through seamless, scaffolded PreK-12 curricular pathways and teacher training in computer science, biomedical science and engineering.
These efforts are proving effective. Independent third parties validate PLTW’s work, and we hear stories of impact every day from students and teachers nationwide. One PLTW middle school student stated:
“PLTW has made me think of goals that I never would have even thought of in the first place, and given me the confidence to pursue them.”
This approach to the classroom is invaluable for learners and businesses. Especially, as industries express concerns about a possible skills gap in the future workforce.
Linking Career Learning and CTE
Career learning exists in direct alignment with Career Technical Education (CTE). Really, CTE is career learning, and vice versa.
In communities across the country, CTE leaders and PLTW work together to provide learners with critical learning opportunities. But we have much more work to do. We need to revolutionize the approach to PreK-12 education, with an emphasis on learner-driven career learning experiences, starting at an early age. This includes equipping students with ways to measure their mastery of the skills in a manner that provides value and currency beyond high school. It also includes engaging all relevant stakeholders – from school administrators and educators, to industry, to public officials – in these efforts.
We look forward to continuing this conversation at the 2018 Advance CTE Fall Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland and discussing the ways we can collaborate to advance this important work. Learners are depending on us, and we can’t afford not to act.
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a nonprofit organization that provides a transformative learning experience for PreK-12 students and teachers across the U.S. PLTW empowers students to develop in-demand, transportable knowledge and skills through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. PLTW’s teacher training and resources support teachers as they engage their students in real-world learning. Approximately 11,500 elementary, middle, and high schools in all 50 states and the District of Columbia offer PLTW programs. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org.