'Project Lead the Way' tries to fill engineering gap

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Nov 07, 2003 by Kropf, Annemarie

SYRACUSE - To combat the declining number of engineers entering the field, one program is trying to interest students before they take their SATs.

Started in the Capital District in 1995, "Project Lead The Way" (PLTW) has expanded to reach middle-school and high-school students around the state and nationwide.

"Engineering has been depicted as a dull field, with people on the computer drawing bridges," says Gary Adelson, Ed.D., director of research and evaluation at PLTW. "[They think] there's no excitement in being an engineer like being a rap artist or an athlete.

"There's a deep need for engineers," he continues. "We are still importing engineers from different countries."

The number of bachelor's degrees awarded in engineering began declining in 1987 and stayed at about the same level through the 1990s, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site. Adelson says that between 1998 and 2000, the 5-percent to 15-percent reduction in the number of engineering graduates combined with increased demand and growing retirement meant that there were nearly 1.3 million jobs vacant.

One reason for this decline is a misconception about the industry, Adelson says. "The engineering profession is a rigorous field that requires students to work hard," says Adelson. He notes that students who excel in theoretical math and science in high school are unprepared for the practical applications of it in college.

PLTW's goal is to generate student interest in college engineering and technology programs by offering those types of courses while they are still in high school and even middle school. "The mission of our prois to provide the engineers this country needs for the next 50 years," he says. "[With this program,] businesses will have a readily available, well-trained work force."

With more than 700 schools involved nationwide, Adelson estimates around 50,000 to 70,000 students are in the program. Of the 140 to 150 New York State schools involved, he guesses there are about 5,000 students in Central New York enrolled in PLTW.

There are five basic courses students can take with PLTW. They are: design and drawing for production, digital electronics, principles of engineering, computerintegrated manufacturing, and engineering design and development research. These elective courses are open to any student who demonstrates some skill in math and science and has an interest in the program, Adelson says. The courses take place during the regular school day, much like music or art, he adds.

PLTW has alliances with colleges around the country such as Clarkson University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Purdue, San Diego University, and Houston University. Students can earn college credit for the courses, if they pass a test. Taking the classes doesn't cost any extra money, but receiving college credit costs $200 per course. Teachers at the high schools that participate in PLTW are required to take a two-week training course at one of the alliance universities.

Since 1999, PLTW has retained the services of Hezel Associates, an independent evaluation and research firm in Syracuse. Hezel documents the program's progress toward its goals.

"The results to date are quite encouraging," Adelson says. "The key [to success] is not oil, it's not coal; it's people. Trained people make a difference in the economy." Participating districts

* The following school districts participate in PLTW:

Baldwlnsville, Binghamton, Camden, Cahajoharie, Canastota,

Cato-Meridian, Gazenovia, Clinton, Dryden, Elmira, Endicott,

Fulton, Hamilton, Holland Patent, Horseheads, Ithaca,

Jamesville-DeWitt, Lafayette, Uverpool, Madison, Madison

Oneida BOCES, Massena, Morrisville-Eaton, New Hartford,

North Syracuse, Norwich, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Rome,

Skaneateles, Thousand Island, Utica, Waverly, Westhill,

Westmoreland, Whitesboro