The program gives students an introduction into the different fields of engineering.  Instructor Ken Cox says the challenging Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses make a huge impact on students’ success in pursuing engineering degrees.  He says the coursework prepares his students to lead their classmates once they reach the college level. 

Through the Civil Engineering and Architecture course, and other PLTW courses, students experience hands-on problem solving.  Teams of students collaborate on the development of community-based building projects and conceptual design for project presentations.  An end-of-the-year project culminates after students identify a problem, then develop and implement a solution.  Using 3D computer modeling software, students learn the design process to create and analyze their own product models.  Cox says students are becoming familiar with concepts in his classroom that otherwise wouldn’t be introduced until first- or second-year college courses.

Falcon School District is one of only 13 districts in the state teaching the Project Lead the Way Civil Engineering and Architecture course.  The district has two high schools out of 29 in the state along with three middle schools out of 23 statewide offering this curriculum.  Students can earn college credit toward an engineering degree before leaving high school through the program’s partnership with UCCS. 

Sand Creek students are working as part of a national team to improve the Civil Engineering and Architecture course taught across the country.   Project Lead the Way, a national organization, selected Sand Creek as one of 17 schools nationwide for a field test of the engineering curriculum. 

Cox is one of two CEA Master Teachers at Sand Creek.  The other is Todd Matia.  District 49 has two of only six Master Teachers in the state.  Cox put in extensive work to become qualified and Project Lead the Way says his dedication led to the selection of Sand Creek for the field test.  Cox has also earned the role of State Leader for PLTW in the state.  He mentors other schools statewide working to implement the program along with certifying them to offer college credit.  Cox also monitors the quality of PLTW courses to ensure schools are upholding the rigorous standards.  Over the course of the 2009-2010 school year, Sand Creek and other selected schools will lead the way for schools teaching the program nationwide.  Teachers, like Cox, will instruct using new curriculum, provide reviews on the lessons and suggestions for improvement.

The CEA course is currently taught in more than 580 schools to 300,000 students.  Sand Creek began offering the engineering course in 1999 and Cox says it's taken off.  District 49 now offers CEA at Vista Ridge and Sand Creek High Schools with more than 100 students enrolled at each building.