Baldwin Elementary School Receives National Recognition
May 1, 2020 -- Baldwin Elementary School has been recognized as a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished Launch School for the 2019-2020 school year. This recognition honors the school’s commitment to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. Through project-based learning, students can develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges in an exciting and engaging way.
PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S. These programs inspire and engage students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
During the 2017-2018 school year, Baldwin became a PLTW Launch School. New modules that incorporate STEM have been added every year since. Beginning in 2019, students in kindergarten through fourth grade will complete three modules a year.
“Project Lead The Way Launch Modules provide the vehicle for teaching students through inquiry, promoting innovative thinking, and emphasizing the 5Cs [critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication and citizenship],” Baldwin Principal Laura Goldzung said. “Now, more than ever, we can see how these skills will serve our students in their future and why they are essential to educating the whole child.”
Through pathways in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, students not only learn technical skills, but also learn to solve problems, think critically and creatively, communicate, and collaborate. Students work though modules that consist of activities, a project and a problem. They work through three main activities where they gain knowledge and skills. Then they proceed to using those skills to investigate a meaningful project before finally transferring and applying skills in a real-world problem.
As a Distinguished PLTW Launch School, Baldwin is honored for providing broad access to transformative learning opportunities for students through PLTW Launch. It is one of just 404 elementary schools across the U.S. to receive this honor. To be eligible for the designation, Baldwin Elementary School had to offer at least two PLTW Launch modules at each grade level and have more than 75% of the student body participating during the 2018-19 school year.
Studies show that students decide as early as elementary school whether they like, and think they are good at, math and science. Whether designing a car safety belt or building digital animations based on their own short stories, PLTW Launch students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop a passion for and confidence in STEM subjects.
“It is a great honor to recognize Baldwin Elementary School for their commitment to providing students with an excellent educational experience,” said Dr. Vince Bertram, President and CEO of PLTW. “They should be very proud of their work to ensure students have the knowledge and skills to be career ready and successful on any career path they choose.”