2008 PACTA Summer Leadership Conference

2008 PACTA Summer Leadership Conference

Career and Technical Education: Leadership for Success

PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENT IN A 2+2+2

Kathryn Ingram – Director, AW Beattie Career Center

Randy Bish – Robotics Instructor, AW Beattie Career Center

Sandy Niggel – Advanced Programming Instructor, AW Beattie Career Center

Project based learning and authentic assessment are major components in the Agile Robotics and Intelligent Systems program at AW Beattie Career Center. The program articulates 15 credits with California University’s Applied Engineering Department in electronics, computer science, mechanical engineering and agile robotics. This presentation will focus on engineering concepts that lead students to performing at a higher level.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as "the Nation's Report Card," indicates 12th grade math students in 2005 are not testing any better than in 1996.

“Math & Science achievement critical, yet US rank continues to decline . . . “

“When compared to other nations, the achievement of U.S. pupils appears inconsistent with the nation’s role as a world leader in scientific innovation. For example, among the 40 countries participating in the 2003 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), the U.S. ranked 28th in math literacy and 24th in science literacy”

In the next six years, U.S. occupations in S&E fields expected to grow by 1.25 million (26% more than today, compared with 15% increase in all other jobs)

The Technology in Collaboration in collaboration with the DCED has proposed an educational initiative to pipeline students into the Robotics Corridor workforce. With Carnegie Mellon University, The University of Pittsburgh, and the California University of Pennsylvania providing the educational springboard, many robotic start up companies ere emerging throughout Pennsylvania. Placing Our state in about the middle of the Robotics Corridor (which is generally located between Michigan and Massachusetts).

Through this initiative, Students have a unique opportunity for training in the cutting-edge field of Robotics Technology R

Partnership with The Technology Collaborative & California University of Pennsylvania and now Carnegie Mellon University.

Much of our curriculum has been developed by the National Robotics Engineering Center.

Students can earn up to 15 credits at Beattie for use in continuing their education at California University.

There are numerous employment opportunities in the Pittsburgh area.

What is Project Based Learning?

Project learning, also known as project-based learning, is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges, simultaneously developing cross-curriculum skills while working in small collaborative groups.

Why Use Project based Learning and Authentic Assessment?

• Agile Robotics and Intelligent Systems, as is the case with many programs in CTC’s must cover a spectrum of topics, from sketching, solid modeling, and mechanics, to electronics, programming and engineering.

• Taught individually, this can be overwhelming to students, but taught collectively and collaboratively can be enriching and beneficial to all.

We will be looking at the course of study developed for Beattie Career and Technical center. These areas include Developed material from the National Robotics Education Center including the Engineering Process, Parametric solid modeling, electronics and programming.