FROM: Ann Houston, Communications and Marketing Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education 1500 W. Seventh Ave., Stillwater, OK 74074 Phone: 405-743-5112 Fax: 405-743-5541 e-mail:ahous@okcareertech.org |
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OSU Partners with CareerTech System, High Schools to Educate Future EngineersSigning day between Oklahoma State University and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) marks a commitment to work with the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education (ODCTE) and Oklahoma’s high schools in response to America’s critical need for professional engineers. Karl Reid, dean of the Oklahoma State University College of Engineering and Architecture and Technology, recently announced that OSU would serve as the university affiliate for PLTW in Oklahoma. "The Project Lead The Way program addresses a serious need of the country and state,” Reid said. Oklahoma high school science and math teachers understand the shortfall with engineering graduates and are both committed and excited to join forces with OSU and the state’s CareerTech system to better prepare their students. “The partnership between Oklahoma’s CareerTech system, high school math and science teachers and PTLW was essential. OSU is delighted that the Colleges of Engineering and Education will support this effort to ensure teachers are well]trained and trained here in Oklahoma,” Reid said. PLTW is a national pre-engineering curriculum designed to help high school students prepare for college engineering coursework. New curriculum is also being developed to address the needs in the aerospace and biotech industries. In its 9th year, the national PLTW program has 175,000 students in 45 states and the District of Columbia and at 1,300 school sites, according to PLTW Executive Director Richard Blais, also present for the signing. OSU is the 26th university to become an affiliate in PLTW's network of colleges and universities that offer training and education to teachers. "In order for PLTW to be successful, it requires direct involvement of key stakeholders – public schools, business and industry and higher education,” Blais said. “Now, with the direct involvement of OSU’s nationally recognized College of Engineering, students in the state will truly benefit." More than 660 Oklahoma high school students are currently enrolled in PLTW Pre-Engineering education programs at pilot sites located at seven of Oklahoma’s technology centers across the state. The technology centers are Central Tech, Drumright; Francis Tuttle and Metro Technology Centers, Oklahoma City; Gordon Cooper, Shawnee; Great Plains, Lawton; Moore Norman; and Tulsa Technology Center. The state CareerTech agency created these pilots to prepare students to enter and complete college and university engineering degree programs with the mathematics and science skills, technical expertise, and engineering career awareness to be successful, according to Phil Berkenbile, CareerTech state director. “As Oklahoma’s affiliate university, OSU will provide ongoing professional development training for teachers, and collaborate with ODCTE on-site performance and certification,” Berkenbile said. “The equipment, faculty, and curriculum at Oklahoma technology centers provide a critical resource for the pre-engineering program that would be hard to duplicate at comprehensive high schools,” Berkenbile said. “The technology center setting offers pre-engineering students the labs, equipment, and opportunity to interface with technicians and professionals, which will be required in their future world of work.” “With district high schools, college and university partners working in partnership, an exceptional model is being created for Oklahoma students,” Berkenbile said.
posted Nov,16 2005 |
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