PLTW Professional Development

PLTW professional development is a three-phase program focused on proper preparation, in-depth training, and continuing education. By actively participating in all three phases of professional development, educators have the opportunity to increase their depth of content knowledge, skills, and pedagogy related to specific PLTW courses instruction.

The three phases of professional development are:

  • Phase 1: Readiness Training
  • Phase 2: Core Training
  • Phase 3: Ongoing Training

Teacher Selection

It is recommended that teachers instructing a PLTW course should have, as a minimum, a bachelor’s degree and be in compliance with applicable state teacher licensure or certification requirements. Additionally, for the PLTW Biomedical Sciences Program teachers should have successfully completed at least two semesters of college-level biology and have experience in the techniques and methods of modern biology, molecular biology, or physiology.

Phase 1: Readiness Training

Readiness Training is delivered online and represents the first phase of the PLTW professional development program. It is focused on ensuring that participants have basic technical and content knowledge prior to participating in pedagogy, skill, and knowledge enhancement training experiences. Teachers must successfully complete all Readiness Training modules before attending Core Training.

Phase 2: Core Training

Core Training is the second phase of the PLTW professional development program. It is an intensive and immersive in-person training experience held at one of PLTW’s Affiliate Universities. During Core Training, teachers are immersed in course-specific curriculum; assume the role of the student to directly inform their expertise in content instruction; complete hands-on activities, projects, and problems with a strong focus on pedagogy; and become active members within a professional learning community. Teachers must successfully pass Core Training for every PLTW course they wish to implement and instruct.

How to Register for a Core Training session

  • For a teacher to register for Core Training, the teacher’s School District must have a completed and submitted a signed PLTW Agreement.
  • The teacher’s School Administrator (SA) must register that teacher with PLTW online before the teacher can sign up for Core Training. If you do not know your School Administrator, use the School Locator to search for your school. Your SA's contact information will be included with your school's listing.
  • Teachers from a state that is home to a PLTW University Affiliate must attend the Core Training session at that site. In the event the necessary Core Training is not offered (or is full) within their state, teachers may attend Core Training at any University Affiliate.
  • In the event the Core Training schedule conflicts with the teacher’s availability, the teacher must contact the state’s PLTW University Affiliate to receive authorization to attend Core Training at an alternate PLTW University Affiliate.
  • University Affiliates reserve the right to cancel any Core Training session if enrollment is inadequate. Please contact the University Affiliate for class confirmation prior to making any travel arrangements. For specific information on a University Affiliate, go to pltw.org/colleges-universities.

View current Core Training Course Offerings

Phase 3: Ongoing Training for PLTW Course Updates

Ongoing training is the third phase of the PLTW professional development program and is largely administered through the Virtual Academy (soon to be PLTW's new Learning Management System). It is designed to provide PLTW teachers with opportunities for continuous professional development to further their understanding of course tools, content, and concepts after they have successfully completed Core Training.

Definitions

Core Training Instructors are Affiliate Professors, Lead Teachers, and Master Teachers who lead Core Training sessions and provide ongoing professional development and outreach in conjunction with PLTW and University Affiliates. CTIs act as local and national best practice resources and assist in the development of curricula, instructional support materials, and course assessments. They possess a rich understanding of PLTW course curriculum and how the subject matter is created, organized, and linked to other disciplines, as well as its applications outside of the classroom.

A Master Teacher is a Core Training Instructor who has taught a PLTW course for at least one complete year and has been approved to become a Core Training Instructor. Master Teachers train new teachers and also contribute to the writing and revising of the PLTW curriculum.  Contact PLTW School Support to learn how to become a master teacher.

An Apprentice is a Master Teacher who will be instructing a Core Training session for the first time. They are accompanied by a veteran Master Teacher for one Core Training session. Once this session is completed, they achieve Master Teacher status and are able to lead a Core Training session the following year.

An Affiliate Professor is a Core Training Instructor who is a professor at a University Affiliate and has attained mastery status in one or more PLTW courses. They are assigned by the university’s Affiliate Director.

An Affiliate Director is the college or university staff or faculty member assigned to run an Affiliate University program..