Several teachers from Louisiana and beyond completed training at Northwestern State University to implement the medical detectives curriculum into their Project Lead the Way projects this fall. The class will introduce middle schoolers to analyzing genetic testing results, diagnosing diseases and learning how the systems of the human body work together. From left are Ja’Corian Coleman, Opelousas Junior High School; Charles King, Harmony Public School, Garland, Texas; Ryan Melton, Grenada (Mississippi) Middle School; Julie Beck, St. Paul’s School, Covington; Amy Willhoite, Oakdale Public School District, Edmond, Oklahoma; Josh Hollingsworth, Hamilton (Alabama) Middle School, and Dr. Ali Ahmad, director of NSU’s Department of Engineering Technology, which annually hosts the training.
Northwestern State University hosted training for middle school teachers who will implement a design and modeling class into their Project Lead the Way curriculum this fall. Seated from left are John Thacker, Archbishop Hannan High School, Covington; Tonya King, Mansfield Middle School, and Stacey Schouest, Belle Chasse Middle School. Standing are Elizabeth Kuchler, Christian Brothers School-City Park Campus, New Orleans; Tara Dale, Delta Charter School, Ferriday; Gary Bennett, Slidell Junior High, Sandy Roberts, Whitwell Middle School, Whitwell, Tennessee, and Penny Rodrique, Armstrong Middle School, Starkville, Mississippi. PLTW is an activity- and project-based curriculum that exposes students to concepts in science, math, engineering and technology from kindergarten through high school. NSU is PLTW’s Louisiana affiliate university and annually offers summer training sessions to teachers from around the state and beyond.