Project Lead the Way Courses

This national curriculum is the leading provider of rigorous and innovative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational programs used in middle and high schools across the U.S. PLTW's comprehensive curriculum for engineering has been collaboratively designed by teachers, university educators, engineering professionals and school administrators to promote critical thinking, creativity, innovation and real-world problem solving skills in students. Johnson High School is the only certified PLTW high school in Saint Paul.

By introducing high school students to these fields it hopes to attract more students to engineering, and allow students, while still in high school, to determine if engineering is the career they desire. Students participating in PLTW courses are better prepared for college engineering programs and more likely to be successful, thus reducing the attrition rate in these college programs.

PLTW Essentials of Engineering

Course Number(s):  T431511

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits)

Prerequisites: None

Grade: 9

Essentials of Engineering is a one semester class designed to be a student's first exposure to PLTW. The course introduces students to a variety of engineering tools such as geographic information systems (GIS), 3-D solid modeling software, and prototyping equipment. Students learn and apply the engineering design process to develop solutions to relevant problems in the real world.

Note: Required 9th Grade class.

PLTW Principles of Engineering (Honors)

Course Number(s): S431491

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)

Prerequisites: None

Grade: 10-12

PLTW: Principles of Engineering covers general concepts of engineering, physics, engineering technology and its career possibilities. This course involves a number of projects that explore careers in engineering, principles of design, control systems, materials science, general mechanics and chemistry. The projects involve learning and applying fundamental principles of physics and chemistry, solving problems, designing and modifying devices. They will also learn how engineers address concerns about the social and political consequences of technological change. Note: Students can earn college credit by passing the PLTW summative test at the end of the semester.

PLTW Biomedical Science and Forensics (Honors)

Course Number(s): S434911

Length: 2 Semesters (4 Credits)

Prerequisites: None

Grade: 10-12

Principles of Biomedical Science (PBS) is a full-year high school course in the PLTW Biomedical Science Program. This course serves to provide foundational knowledge and skills in fields such as biology, anatomy & physiology, genetics, microbiology, and epidemiology as well as engage students in how this content can be applied to real world situations, cases, and problems. Through both individual and collaborative team activities. projects, and problems, students will tackle real-world challenges faced by biomedical professionals in the field. They will work with the same tools and equipment used in hospitals and labs as they engage in relevant hands-on work. Students will develop skill in technical documentation to represent and communicate experimental findings and solutions to problems. In addition, students will explore how connections to other disciplines such as computer science and engineering shape the future of medicine and practice collaboration techniques that will help them connect with professionals across any field.

PLTW Computer Science and Software Engineering (Honors)

Course Number(s):  T431461

Length: 2 Semesters (4 credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Engineering

Grade: 10-12

This year-long course uses the Python programming language to investigate how computers are programmed and used to share information through the internet, analyze data sets and solve complex problems with computer models.

1st Quarter - Python Programming

2nd Quarter -The Internet

3rd Quarter - Analyzing Data

4th Quarter - Computer Simulations

Note: Students may be able to earn college credit under certain circumstances from Saint Cloud State University.

PLTW Civil Engineering & Architecture (Honors)

Course Number(s): T431611

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits)

Prerequisites: None

Grade: 11-12

The major focus of the Civil Engineering and Architecture (CEA) course is a long-term project that involves the development of a local property site.  As students learn about civil engineering and architecture, they apply what they learn to the design and development of this property.  Developing the property as a simulation and model allows students to learn what civil engineers and architects experience while developing properties. The CEA course is structured to enable students to have a variety of experiences that will provide an overview of both fields.  Students work individually and in teams exploring hands-on projects and activities to learn the characteristics of civil engineering and architecture. In addition, students will use state of the art software packages to help them design solutions to solve class assignments and projects. Students learn about documenting their project, solving problems and communicating their solutions to various audiences.

Note: Students can earn college credit by passing a PLTW summative test at the end of the semester.

PLTW Computer Integrated Manufacturing (Honors)

Course Number(s):  T531711

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Engineering

Grade: 10-12

How are things made? What processes go into creating products? Is the process for making a water bottle the same as it is for a musical instrument? How do assembly lines work? How has automation changed the face of manufacturing? While students discover the answers to these questions, they’re learning about the history of manufacturing, robotics and automation, manufacturing processes, computer modeling, manufacturing equipment, and flexible manufacturing systems.

Note: Students can earn college credit by passing PLTW summative test at the end of the semester.

PLTW Engineering Design and Development  (Honors)

Course Number(s):  T431621

Length: 1 Semester (2 Credits)

Prerequisites: Principles of Engineering

Grade: 12

This course fulfills the Senior Project graduation requirement for seniors at Johnson High School.

This course works very similarly to Senior Finale in that students will complete a project, portfolio and present their project.  The main difference is that in this class, students will be working in teams which, together, will think of a common everyday problem, research solutions to that problem and come up with unique solutions to that problem through the creation and development of a product.  During the process, students will develop their research, writing and presentation skills.  Students will write a technical report around their project, documenting the process of development, design and testing of the project.  Students will also create a portfolio documenting their project and give a presentation at the end of the course.