Laurel Hawkins
PLTW Teacher
Greetings! This is the page of your friendly neighborhood Project Lead the Way teacher, Laurel Hawkins. This is my 26th year teaching, and my 7th year specifically teaching PLTW. I am a graduate of UNC-Charlotte for my undergrad and for my masters in Instructional Technology.
Courses in PLTW I Teach 2023-24 School Year:
Design and Modeling - This is an exploratory engineering course where students experience the engineering design process. Students do this through breaking down a problem, creating various solutions to that problem, testing the solutions, and determining the best solution for the design challenge. (6th Grade)
Automation and Robotics - We explore uses of robots and how they are changing the job market. Then we look at the practical side- building and stringing together different gear structures before automating those gear with motors and sensors using coding. (7th Grade)
Medical Detectives- This is a biomedical exploratory course where students experience different aspects of biomedical careers including (but not limited to) basic vitals signs, testing for diseases, DNA extraction, functions of various body systems, and forensics. (8th Grade)
7th and 8th grade students build and test 11 basic gear structures.
6th Grade students explore the strongest shapes through tower building.
6th Grade Students explore how to meet criteria and constraints.
7th and 8th Grade students build pull toys.
6th Graders Build a Container House model.
6th Graders showcasing safety protocols as they build their model homes.
Model Home excellence!!
2021-22 Students testing roller coasters.