Project Lead the Way - Gateway

Middle school is a time when students are figuring out what they’re passionate about. They begin to think about courses they can take in high school to further that passion and how these things relate to their future life.

During this transitional time, PLTW Gateway’s 10 units empower students to lead their own discovery. As students engage in PLTW’s activities, they see a range of paths and possibilities they can look forward to in high school and beyond.

After a brief overview of the PLTW program and its philosophy for education, we will explore two of these 10 units for middle school students -- Design and Modeling, and Computer Science for Innovators and Makers. Please bring your internet connected device.

Michael Plocher, M.S.Ed. is a middle school STEM educator and director of technology at St. Paul Lutheran School in New Ulm. He also is an adjunct instructor at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, where he teaches the education course Teaching with Technology. Over the past 28 years he has promoted the inclusion of technology in instruction at the local, district, and synod levels and is a regular presenter of educational technology topics.