Evaluation of High School Pre-Engineering Curricula through Missouri University of Science and Technology Student Survey Responses

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is an example of a STEM education program that provides structured curriculum to promote college preparation in these areas.There have been several studies that show the benefits of PLTW courses for K-12 students in the preparation for high school students on statewide and national exams, high school academic performance, college level academic performance in particular areas of study, high school student engagement, and other areas.This study examines the impact of PLTW courses on Missouri S&T student career choices.Survey results from 120 current and graduated Missouri S&T (S&T) students are presented.Survey results indicated that: 1) students taking PLTW courses felt better prepared for their S&T experience in terms of hands-on experience, creative problem solving, teamwork and software experience and 2) 72.5% of the student respondents recognized engineering as their original career path and that PLTW promoted their career choices.