A new study of Project Lead The Way, a curriculum which focuses on increasing students’ exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, shows the program has significant impact in encouraging students’ long-term interest in STEM education and careers.
A new study of Project Lead The Way, a high school curriculum which focuses on increasing students’ exposure to science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, shows the program has significant impact in encouraging students’ long-term interest in STEM education.
The research team, led by Eric Camburn, Ph.D., Sherman Family Foundation Endowed Chair and director of the Urban Education 研究 Center, and Karin Chang, Ph.D., associate director and associate research professor at the 威尼斯人娱乐城, studied the potential impact of the Project Lead The Way curriculum on two cohorts of Missouri high school students. Camburn和Chang与圣路易斯大学和密苏里-哥伦比亚大学的研究人员合作进行了这项研究。
他们的研究显示，参加过“项目引领之路”（PLTW）课程的学生比没有参加过的学生更有可能在高中学习双学分课程，从高中毕业，进入大学，并在入学时宣布主修STEM专业。
“We found that taking Project Lead The Way courses help students successfully graduate from high school and go on to postsecondary education,” Camburn says. “And students in historically underserved groups appear to have benefitted even more on important outcomes.”
虽然最初的项目实施主要集中在几所学校，但近年来的实施已经大大增加。 2005年，密苏里州在10个地区和16所学校启动了PLTW计划。 该项目目前在全州163个地区的384所学校提供，覆盖小学、初中和高中。
“We found that taking Project Lead the Way courses helps students successfully graduate from high school and go on to postsecondary education.” — Eric Camburn, Ph.D.
Camburn和他的团队估计，大约17%的密苏里高中有一个活跃的项目。 The team’s research included more than 145,000 first-time ninth graders, 13 percent of whom had enrolled in at least one PLTW course.
Kenny Rodrequez是Grandview C-4学区的督学，作为一名教师和行政人员，他在Lead the Way项目中有着丰富的经验。 他在将课程推广到他所在地区的更多教室方面发挥了重要作用。
“I had previous experience with the curriculum before I came to Grandview,” he says. “I knew how good it was. I could see that we needed to expand the program.”
罗德里格斯推动将课程从学前班扩展到12年级。 He thinks it’s successful in engaging students for a number of reasons.
“Number one, it’s a very defined curriculum. 课程以教师能够在高水平上支持学生的方式编排。 But it also provides flexibility, so they can incorporate different components at the right time.”
He says he’s seen both new and veteran teachers have positive experiences.
“It’s a great package. Veteran teachers have the flexibility they need, but there is a clear path for new teachers, too.”
罗德里格斯说，学生们经常对PLTW的课程做出反应，因为它与现实世界有联系。
“Four years ago, I heard a group of fourth graders talking about what would happen if we had a global outbreak of [a virus.] I wish I could go back to that class and say, ‘Did you ever think that could actually happen in the real world?’”
罗德里格斯对PLTW课程的研究结果并不感到惊讶。
“There’s so much community support around this work. 我们可以立即得到帮助。 老师们都很忙。 That is important.”
Camburn says Rodriguez’s experience is not unique.
“We believe a reasonable implication of these preliminary findings is that widespread implementation of the program in the state is likely to help more Missouri high school students make the transition to secondary education, including college, trade and vocational schools,” Camburn says.
城市教育研究中心（UERC）是密苏里大学堪萨斯城教育学院的一个研究和评估中心。 该中心与教育学院、整个大学以及当地合作伙伴和社区合作，为城市地区的教育创造可靠、可用的知识。
“The Urban Education 研究 Center is uniquely qualified to provide exemplary research on the impact of this curriculum on student outcomes,” Carolyn Barber, interim dean, School of Education. “Dr. Camburn has devoted three decades to research on school improvement, leadership and inequalities in educational opportunity. Ultimately, we hope this knowledge promotes excellence in schooling and opportunities for residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area as well as communities across the state of Missouri.”