Local industry leaders joined executives from Project Lead the Way (PLTW) on Nov. 10 to tour classrooms at Coon Rapids High School, which are in the school’s Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering program.
The classes empower students who use curriculum written by PLTW. The non-profit organization develops STEM curriculum in science, technology, engineering and math for schools across the nation.
Project Lead the Way, president and CEO, David Dimmet and others got to see the curriculum in action. In the Biomedical Innovations class, students learn to solve problems and think critically, using what they've learned about design and statistics.
"So they're applying that knowledge to designing their own research question and designing a study to test something about human physiology or human psychology," Biology and BioMedical teacher Ann Gliddon said.
In the Computer Integrated Manufacturing classroom, students design their projects in 3D modeling, use a flow chart, and write code. In the Medical Interventions class, students work as genetic counselors while they research a genetic disorder.
"We really do try to have all the careers,” Biomedical teacher Kelly Beulke said. “Because kids are like, I want to be a doctor or I want to be a nurse. And so we're trying to show them this is an example of a job where you don't have to be a doctor or a nurse."
If you would like to learn more about the Coon Rapids High School Center for Biomedical Sciences and Engineering program, they are hosting an information night on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. For more information, click here.