Project Lead The Way® is all about teaching and learning. The hands-on, project and problem-based PLTW® approach adds rigor to traditional technical programs and relevance to traditional academics. Project Lead The Way is a national 501 c3, not-for-profit educational program that helps give middle and high school students the rigorous ground-level education they need to develop strong backgrounds in science and engineering.

Copy and Paste this link to Google for Categories of Technology http://prezi.com/onbflx94_swk/?utm_campaign=share&...

Gateway to Technology is the Middle School PLTW Program
Course Description:Gateway To Technology’s (GTT) cutting-edge program addresses the interest and energy of middle school students, while incorporating national standards in mathematics, science, and technology. GTT is “activity oriented” to show students how technology is used in engineering to solve everyday problems in units of study. There are currently two instructional units that excite and motivate students to use their imaginations and teach them to be creative and innovative, while gaining the skills they need to develop, produce, and use products and services.

Units of StudyDesign and Modeling
This unit uses solid modeling (a very sophisticated mathematical technique for representing solid objects) to introduce students to the design process. Utilizing this design approach, students understand how solid modeling has influenced their lives. Students also learn sketching techniques, and use descriptive geometry as a component of design, measurement, and computer modeling. Using design briefs or abstracts, students create models and documentation to solve problems.Automation and Robotics
Students trace the history and development of automation and robotics. They learn about structures, energy transfer, machine automation, and computer control systems. Students acquire knowledge and skills in engineering problem solving and explore requirements for
careers in engineering.TeachersFlood Middle School – Mr.Angel Garcia, Wooster Middle School – Mr. Joseph Palmucci Major Concepts 

Concepts are the principles, theories, and recurring themes important to a student's understanding of a course of study. Teachers use concepts to help students understand the "why" that supports what they are learning.

1. Skillful researchers are proficient with the technologies and strategies used to gather, organize, document, and disseminate information.

2. Consideration of the ethical, environmental, social, and economic impacts of the engineering design process is essential to being a responsible, involved citizen.

3. Mathematics is the body of knowledge used to describe the scientific principles that happen naturally in the world, and technology is the application of these principles to produce products and services to benefit society.

4. Individual contributions to group processes facilitate the solving of complex problems and the achievement of common goals.

5. Critical thinking involves using a variety of established and original problem-solving techniques.

6. The use of the design process to analyze and solve problems has greatly improved the quality of, and the speed at which, new products are created.

7. Project success is dependent on problem identification, planning, and the allocation of resources.

8. Individuals who accept the responsibility of continuous self-evaluation will benefit from personal growth, professional development and increased employability.

9. In order to solve complex problems, systems which monitor and correct performance must be developed.