Gateway to Technology
Middle School Engineering Program
Program Overview | Course Details | Reflections on GTT | Contact Information
Program Overview
Gateway to Technology (GTT) is Project Lead the Way’s (PLTW) engineering program for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. GTT is an activities-oriented program designed to challenge and engage the natural curiosity and imagination of middle school students. It focuses on showing—not telling—students how engineers use technology to solve everyday problems. This program introduces students to skills and topics in engineering and helps prepare students for future courses in PLTW.
Wheeling High School currently offers four middle school engineering courses.
The middle school engineering courses at Wheeling High School are open to middle school students who live within the attendance boundaries of Wheeling High School. Courses are scheduled throughout the school year after school one day per week and during the summer. They are taught by faculty members from Wheeling High School and participating middle schools
Course Details
Wheeling High School currently offers four engineering course for incoming middle school students.
Gateway to Technology - Design and Modeling
This course is generally offered once a week after school during the fall semester. This unit uses AutoDesk Inventor solid modeling software (a sophisticated mathematical technique for representing solid objects) as part of the design process. Utilizing this design approach, students understand how design influences their lives. Students also learn sketching techniques and use descriptive geometry as a component of design, measurement and computer modeling. Students brainstorm, research, develop ideas, create models, test and evaluate design ideas and communicate solutions.
Gateway to Technology - Magic of Electrons
This course is generally offered once a week after school during the spring semester. Through hands-on projects, students explore the science of electricity, the behavior and parts of atoms, circuit design and sensing devices. Students acquire knowledge and skills in basic circuitry design and explore the impact of electricity on their lives.
Engineering Design and Manufacturing
This course is generally offered in the last weeks of the spring semester and is a capstone only available to 8th grade students who have previously participated in Wheeling High School’s Gateway to Technology program. The course focuses on the skills and opportunities surrounding the integration of manufacturing and engineering. The course involves on hands projects and the use of AutoDesk Inventor to design, model, and manufacture their own projects. Students will have the opportunity to use the engineering design and some of the manufacturing facilities at Wheeling High School.
Gateway to Technology - Automation and Robotics
This course is generally offered mid/late-June during mornings of summer school. The course focuses on students designing, fabricating, and programming different automated robotic systems. They learn about mechanical systems, energy transfer, machine automation and computer control systems. Students acquire knowledge and skills in problem solving, teamwork collaboration and innovation.
Reflections/Comments from Gateway to Technology Students and Parents
What has been your favorite part of Gateway to Technology?
Creating all the machines in the robotics [course] because it was fun creating them and it was really hands on.
- 8th grader from London Middle School
Building robots. I like the hands-on activities.
- 8th grader from Holmes Middle School
My favorite part of being in the Gateway to Technology course is building cool projects and being introduced to engineering.
- 8th grader from MacArthur Middle School
What do you think you have gained from taking the courses in Gateway to Technology?
I have gained a big step in my engineering future. I have learned how to fix real world problems and make real world machines.
-8th grader from Holmes Middle School
I think I have gained some experience dealing with technology, and I will be more comfortable with these tools in high school.
- 8th grader from MacArthur Middle School
Would you recommend other students to take Gateway to Technology?
I would recommend that other students at my school take Gateway to Technology because it is a great course, you learn a lot from it, and have fun doing it.
- 8th grader from Holmes Middle School
Yes, you do real life stuff and it’s really fun.
- 7th grader from London Middle School
What have you gained from taking the course in Gateway to Technology?
I’ve highly increased my skill in building and have a better image of what engineers do.
- 8th grader from Holmes Middle School
You have to work with other people in order to be successful in doing some things.
- 7th grader from London Middle School
What type of reaction have you had from your child in regards to Gateway to Technology?
- Parent of 7th grader from London Middle School
Very positive! He enjoyed it a lot.
- Parent of 8th grader from MacArthur Middle School
Would you recommend Gateway to Technology to other families? What would you tell them about the program?
Yes, it gives them experience in areas they would never learn about in the regular school curriculum. It broadens their minds and exposes them to technology, hopefully providing interest for the future. [My child] has benefited from the high school environment and teachers. [She] has loved being challenged and learning in Gateway to Technology this year.
- Parent of 7th grader from London Middle School
Yes. It gives them a good real life experience while they get to learn new things. It was a fun class and allowed them to do things that they would get to do in high school.
- Parent of a 7th grader from London Middle School
Contact Information
For more information or for a schedule of courses you may contact Mr. Dan Weidner at Wheeling High School by email at dan.weidner@d214.org or by phone at 847-718-7383.
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