Program inspires students to seek medical career path

Wilmot teachers, administrators present at National Summit

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Project Lead the Way has continued to inspire both teachers and students in solving real-world problems.

Wilmot Union High School is one of a few area schools using the program geared towards science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Two of the school’s PLTW instructors, Lena Joch and Gina Greil, were among thousands that attended a National Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana last month and brought back more materials for students.

Lena Joch
Lena Joch

Both teachers are in their fifth year as instructors of PLTW and second as Master Teachers.

Master Teachers train other teachers in the development of a biomedical curriculum.

Additionally, the two also presented a panel with the school’s Director of Teaching and Learning Michael Juech.

The teachers attended multiple sessions that included a “STEM Behind Experience” at Indiana University Health Center, where they learned from a Special Pathogens Team on managing a patient who had Ebola symptoms.

They also attended educational symposiums on giving back to the community through engineering, biomedical courses and business partnerships.

“Not only was I inspired and engaged, but I have more ideas to bring back to my classroom to help my students,” Joch said.

In their presentation titled “Creating a Premier Program: Empowering Teachers” they examined how administrators can support enhancement of a biomedical science program.

Gina Greil
Gina Greil

Biomedical science allows students an opportunity to expand their horizons, Joch said.

“The students are exploring the concepts of human medicine, mapping and analyzing DNA, and designing innovative solutions for the health challenges of the 21st century,” Joch said.

One student is senior Sawyer Wightman, who was drawn to Wilmot’s PLTW program and open-enrolled from Burlington before her freshman year.

“The PLTW Biomedical program has been very enlightening to me and has helped me decide that I want to end up somewhere in the Medical Field for my career,” said Wightman, who wants to pursue pediatric oncology at Ferris State University.

Wightman and her classmates learn through problem-based learning, instead of through lectures, according to Joch.

Greil agreed, stating students learn from experience, instead of memorization of class notes.

PLTW uses an approach, known as APB, which stands for Activity, Project and Problem based learning.

“When you see your students authentically engaged in the learning process, it’s hard not to fall in love with the approach,” Greil said.

The full story appears in the April 15 print edition of the Westosha Report


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