Project Lead The Way students embarked on the second level of the Engineering and Biomedical Science tracks this term. Biomed gained Human Body Systems, and the Engineering track gained Principles of Engineering. These classes are just the second of four that can be offered in each PLTW program. The third classes on each track are expected to be added to RHS’ course list next school year.

The first level course of Biomedical Science PLTW, Principles of Biomedical Science, requires students to solve a murder story. The new course, Human Body Systems, engages students in forensic anthropology and DNA study to learn course material.

Senior Jillian Fang is enrolled in both Principles of Engineering and Human Body Systems and values the classes’ unique academic challenges.

“The second classes [are] very hands-on, you have to learn the material before you can create things; you can’t just slap things together,” Fang said.

According to Biomed teacher Erin Granucci, returning Biomed students are highly committed to the courses.

“During the day, having a 100 percent engaged class [is] something I have never experienced in 20 years,” Granucci said. “That’s dedication.”

With the help of $54,000 dedicated to the startup of the Biomed track, Human Body Systems students are all able to have their own skeletal mannequins. They use the mannequins to perform individual experiments.

Granucci hopes to integrate the third Biomed class next school year with the help of chemistry teacher Mike Purvines and biology teacher Katherine Nurss.

“Purvines, I recruited hard. I don’t know anyone else who is a perfect fit due to his biomedical science background,” Granucci said. “Nurss, with her being a brand new teacher, she’s fresh out of the gate and she’s equipped with the new Common Core science standards.”

Senior, Human Body Systems student Mia Rodgers wishes that she had more time in the PLTW program since she is graduating and has only been able to take the first two Biomed classes.
“I would definitely start when you’re younger because the last one is an internship where you go to hospitals and work,” Rodgers said.

According to Engineering teacher John Fuller, Principles of Engineering provides “more opportunities for interactive learning in the classroom” than Introduction to Engineering. The first course primarily has students working with the 3-D design program, AutoCAD.

Fuller is excited to use the second class to give students the opportunity to move beyond the deskwork and begin to build machines.

“[The second class is] almost like physics but more hands-on, applied physics,” Fuller said. “They’re going to be working with Robotix [club] kids to create electronic devices and simple machines.”

At the end of the year, his second-level class will design and construct their own marble sorting machine for their final.

Junior Principles of Engineering student Jack Visger likes PLTW’s environment.

“Instead of sitting behind a computer you can get up, move around [and] problem solve,” Visger said. “There’s a lot of group activities that involve actually working with parts and putting stuff together and you can collaborate with other groups and come up with other ideas.”

Fuller looks to keep up student enrollment by letting the Principles of Engineering students help decide on what to include in future classes.

“I would like to talk to the second class to see what direction they would like to go so that way I can keep the numbers up and keep the interest,” Fuller said. “I got a lot of great ideas, but at the same time, I want to take their opinions into account,”

The third class may include concepts on architecture, computer electronics or computer integrated manufacturing, depending on student interest levels.

Rodgers credits Granucci with some of the program’s success.

“Ms. Granucci is such a great teacher,” Rodgers said. “You’re allowed to mess up and fail and she doesn’t make you feel bad about anything.”

Fang is grateful for the skills she learned within the PLTW program.

“These are skills and assets that every student needs and every student doesn’t realize it or have,” Fang said.