Engineering teacher Myrtis Smith wants her students at Winton Woods High School to understand all the ways that engineering can impact their lives and their future careers. "The career of engineering is so broad that many students have no idea what the field is all about," said Smith, a Project Lead the Way teacher with the Great Oaks District. That's why she's glad the 86 students who signed up for her Introduction to Engineering Design class at Winton Woods aren't just interested careers in math and science, but in art, graphic design, computer gaming and health.

While many students are looking to explore more traditional engineering fields such as mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering, Smith's students have a wide variety of interests including architecture, health, education, and even fashion design or law.  "You don't have an A in math and science to take this class," said Smith, who earned her degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University and has been a Great Oaks instructor for three years. "You have to have an interest in how things work and be creative and curious."

Smith's Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) class is the first in a national, four-year course of study known as Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a partnership between Winton Woods High School and Great Oaks. Great Oaks provided teachers at both Winton Woods High School and Winton Woods Middle School and outfitted new labs in each building. The goal of PLTW is to give students first-hand experience with different facets of engineering and help them discover where their strengths lie.

At the high school, foundation courses in the sequence include: IED, Principles of Engineering and Digital Electronics. Specialization courses offered are: Civil Engineering and Architecture, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Biotechnical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computational Modeling, and Fuel Cell Technology. "Each school decides on the specializations they will offer," said Smith. That decision is made with the help of an advisory team and is determined by new technologies and industry in the area. PLTW ends with Engineering Design and Development (a capstone project).

Smith said not only do her students participate in hands-on projects but they have the opportunity to meet experts in the engineering field like Professor Anita Todd, a mechanical engineer employed by the University of Cincinnati and representing the Society of Women Engineers. "Professor Todd recently to my students about careers in engineering, but she also brought everyday objects to talk about the engineering behind them," said Smith. Among the objects Todd brought were a golf driver, a camera, medical instruments and shoes. "She showed how engineering was used in every item from medicine to sports to electronics and how designs and features changed over the years."

At Winton Woods Middle School, engineering teacher Heather Edler said her goal is to create some excitement among her eighth grade Gateway to Technology students and "help them take some baby steps to understanding 'What's engineering?'" The focus of the class is showing students how to use engineering skills to solve everyday problems. "A class like this makes them more well-rounded students," said Edler, "The same as someone taking a choir class."

Gateway to Technology is the Project Lead the Way course for middle school. The course is designed to engage the natural curiosity of middle school students. While in the classroom, students use computer programs like Inventor and RoboPro and complete a variety of projects like a dragster and a robot. After passing a safety test with a score of 100%, students can use the class's drill press, band saw and scroll saw. Edler's class is divided into three courses: Design and Modeling, The Science of Technology and Automation and Robotics.

At the high school level, PLTW students are able to earn college credit for the course. Smith is also hoping to be able to offer internships to her students in the near future. "I tell my students this isn't like any other class you've ever taken before," said Smith. "When it comes to engineering the possibilities are endless. You just have to ask yourself, "Wouldn't it be cool if ...."