PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) is preparing to offer a new pre-engineering program for high school students in Berks County. Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is an exciting high school pre-engineering program that combines high-level academics and technical education to prepare students for careers in the engineering and engineering technology fields. The program will be a cooperative venture between BCTC and Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College. It is made available through Project Lead The Way, Inc., a not-for-profit organization partnering with public schools, organizations in the private sector, and higher education institutions.

The United States is currently suffering from a severe shortage of engineers and well-educated technical workers. The nation has more than one million jobs available in these fields but few qualified candidates to fill them. As a result, U.S. technical industries are suffering, and salaries and benefits for those who do complete their education are very desirable. Project Lead The Way will address the national shortage and look to enhance economic and work force development for the local area.

Project Lead The Way is based on the National Standards for Engineering. It is sanctioned by a number of universities, including Penn State, Rochester Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Ferris State University (Michigan), New Hampshire Technical Institute, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University of Houston, University of New Haven, University of South Florida, and Weber State. It is one of four national programs to be recognized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers for innovative curricula development directly related to manufacturing and engineering.

According to Dr. Robert Runkle, Administrative Director for the Berks Career and Technology Center, "the recent modernization of the facilities enables us to offer one of the best, national workforce development initiatives at the high school level. BCTC currently has the latest technology in robotics, electronics, Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Computer Aided Drafting. Combined with a national curriculum in pre-engineering, BCTC provides students with an excellent foundation in all fields of engineering and the opportunity to earn college credits while still in high school," explained Runkle.

PLTW has developed a four-year, flexible sequence of courses, which, when combined with college preparatory mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college. Classes include Principles of Engineering, Introduction to Engineering Design, Digital Electronics, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, and Engineering Design and Development. "Introduction at this level will hopefully attract more students to engineering, and will allow students, while still in high school, to determine if engineering is the career they desire," commented Runkle.