What is Gateway?
GTT is short for GATEWAY to TECHNOLOGY. This is an 8th grade pre-engineering program is focused on showing students how to use engineering skills to solve everyday problems. This is not a computers course. The primary focus of the course is on science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and inquiry skills. The course is offered to 8th graders meeting the Algebra I pre-requisite and they will be awarded 1 High School credit towards the elective graduation requirement upon successful completion of this course.
DOES THE GATEWAY COURSE FOCUS ON A PARTICULAR AREA?
The GTT course is a two-semester course that focuses on four units: Design & Modeling (DM), Automation and Robotics (AR), Science of Technology (ST), and Energy and the Environment (EE).
DO WE NEED ANY SPECIAL COMPUTER PROGRAMS AT HOME FOR THIS COURSE?
No special software is required at home and all computer work will be done in class. We utilize the 3-D modeling software program Autodesk® Inventor® for DM and RoboPro is used for the AR portion of the course which requires students to write computer-language coded instruction to send commands to the fischertechnik® robotics. DM and AR are both learned through APPB-learning.
WHAT IS APPB-LEARNING?
APPB stands for (activities, project and problem-based) learning. Activities-based, project-based, and problem-based learning promotes an increase in student motivation, an increase in cooperative learning skills and higher-order thinking, and an improvement in student achievement. There is no textbook associated with the course. For more information please visit the PLTW® website at https://www.pltw.org/our-programs/pltw-gateway