Fairview Chamberlain Middle School (FCMS) will implement Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Gateway to Technology (GTT) program for the 2016 – 2017 school year. Northwest Technology Center and Chamberlain Middle School formed a Partnership Team in January 2016, to pursue Perkins Reserve Supplemental Grant Funding through the Oklahoma Department of Career Tech, for implementation of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program for sixth, seventh and eighth graders at FCMS.
ONEOK joined the partnership in May 2016. The goal of the Partnership Team, comprised of key personnel from the middle school and technology center, is that middle school students be introduced to STEM careers that will help them understand what those careers offer and that the technology center is a viable option to continue studies in Biomedical Science as they transition to high school.
Both Gateway to Technology and Biomedical Science utilize the PLTW curriculum. Instructors for PLTW programs are required to participate in rigorous training activities to earn credentials to teach the curriculum. Troy Hutchison, Fairview Chamberlain Middle School Gateway to Technology instructor, and Shawn Cusack, Northwest Technology Center Biomedical Science instructor, will teach the PLTW curriculum to give students a competitive advantage as they gain concepts and skills that better prepare students for college and career readiness.
The GTT implementation plan will consist of a sequence of three courses during the sixth, seventh and eighth grade years of middle school. Goals for the implementation are to couple the energy and enthusiasm of middle school students to strengthen reading, math, science and technology inquiry skills by focusing on showing students how to solve everyday problems. Students will be engaged in activities that provide opportunities to discover what they are passionate about today and the relationship to what they become tomorrow. They will apply algebra concepts to solve real – world problems, use labs and technology to experience the scientific process, and gain confidence in language skills and communication. FCMS will offer three courses from PLTW GTT curriculum; the two foundation units of Design and Modeling, Automation and Robotics, along with one specialized unit of Medical Detectives.
Northwest Technology Center received Official Award Notification July 1, in the amount of $25,000 for implementation of the GTT partnership with Fairview Chamberlain Middle School. The monies are being utilized to purchase 14 laptops dedicated for use by GTT students, one instructor laptop, as well as additional supplies and equipment. In addition, ONEOK is providing $4300 for the cost of the VEX Kits required to teach Automation and Robotics.