PLTW Professional Development

Take a Core Training Pre-Assessment
Download a step-by-step guide to taking a Pre-Assessment (PDF)

PLTW Professional Development is a three-phase program designed to teach the content and pedagogical skills needed to instruct each PLTW course. It’s focused on proper preparation, in-depth training and continuing education.

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 Curricular 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: Pre-Assessments and Readiness Training

Readiness Training

Readiness Training is delivered online and represents the first phase of the PLTW Professional Development program. It is designed to prepare teachers for Core Training by assessing and developing a baseline relative to course tools, content and concepts necessary for success. A teacher must successfully complete Readiness Training prior to registering for Core Training.

Pre-Assessment

A PLTW course Pre-Assessment is designed to prepare teachers for successful participation in the PLTW Core Training Institutes. Teachers must complete a Pre-Assessment for each course to be taught during the upcoming school year. Teachers will not be able to register for Core Training until they have scored a 75% or better on the Pre-Assessment.

Teachers who do not score a 75% or better should review concepts related to the missed questions and then re-take the test. (A four-hour waiting period is imposed before the test can be re-taken.)

Each Pre-Assessment contains questions directly related to the course subject matter as well as general computer and mathematics skills.

On February 15th of each year, Pre-Assessments are available. Pre-Assessments taken prior the opening of Core Training registration (March 15th) will be recorded and saved.

To take the Pre-Assessment, teachers will need to login to the PLTW Virtual Academy using the username and password provided by their PLTW School District Delegate.

If you do not know your School District Delegate, use the School Locator to search for your school. Your delegate's contact information will be included with your school's listing.

Take a Core Training Pre-Assessment 
Download a step-by-step guide to taking a Pre-Assessment (PDF)

Phase 2: Core Training

Core Training is the second phase of the PLTW Professional Development program. These two-week sessions held year round at PLTW University Affiliates are designed to provide an in-depth overview and hands-on, course-specific training of the curriculum with a strong focus on pedagogy and professional networking. A teacher must successfully complete Core Training for each PLTW course they plan on teaching.

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 STEM Agreement.
  • The teacher’s School District Delegate must register that teacher with PLTW online before the teacher can sign up for Core Training. If you do not know your School District Delegate, use the School Locator to search for your school. Your delegate'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 an 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. 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 Laura Greenaway 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 an 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 a University Affiliate.