I love Chevy Chase in the movie “Fletch.” One of my favorite lines is, “It’s all ball bearings nowadays. ”

As much as I love “Fletch,” I am happy to report that today, in fact, it is not all ball bearings.

It’s so much more.

From a small town in upstate New York came a big idea that would transform education. Project Lead The Way (PLTW) began as a high school engineering program in 1997 and has grown to be a national force for change in STEM education.

The focus of PLTW is on empowering students and transforming the teaching experience. For the past two decades, it has altered the landscape of STEM education nationally and it is impacting students and teachers here in Athens City Schools.

ACS believes all students need access to real-world, applied learning experiences that empower them to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, career and beyond. That’s why Athens Middle and Athens High Schools offers PLTW pathways in computer science, engineering and biomedical science.

In its third year at ACS, PLTW programs are teaching students to develop skills like problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration and communication — all essential skills that they will use both in school and life, on any career path they take.

In a practical sense, these courses are fundamentally different from traditional courses. They use project-based learning. There are no tests and no quizzes. The courses themselves are team-based activities, projects and research. The projects lead the learning and drive the instruction. This engaged, hands-on classroom experience changes the way students experience school.

“This is revolutionary compared to traditional teaching models,” said Andrew Risner, a PLTW Engineering teacher at AHS. “Students are exposed to a different type of curriculum. They are allowed to be creative while accomplishing a common goal.”

Teachers are invaluable when it comes to empowering students. To this end, PLTW professional development is turning teachers into facilitators and coaches. They become comfortable in these roles as their students guide their own learning. All PLTW teachers in ACS have received special training that prepares them to imbue this new way of learning into their classrooms.

“The training is pretty intense,” Risner said.

Our Athens High PLTW teachers are Kristin Black, computer science; Missy Greenhaw, biomedical science; Michael May, engineering; and Andrew Risner, engineering. At AMS, Kimberly Gates is the PLTW gateway teacher. These courses help to build a strong foundation for high school PLTW learning experiences.

Students are designing, building and programming things like traffic lights, toll booths, conveyor belts, robotic arms and elevators. In Risner’s class, students build a car with robotics equipment that can switch between three power sources — solar panel, hydrogen fuel cell and battery. “They create the electrical circuit, and they eventually get to race their cars against each other,” Risner said.

Studies show that PLTW programs have a significant impact on student success. Research shows that these students perform better than their peers in school, are better prepared for post-secondary studies and are more likely to consider careers as scientists, technology experts, engineers, mathematicians, healthcare providers and researchers compared to their non-PLTW peers. Students find the programs relevant, inspiring, engaging and foundational to their future success.

Risner shared that PLTW has inspired and empowered him as teacher as well.

“I have felt empowered by the opportunity to teach students applications of mathematics and science concepts,” he said. “These courses force students to master the ability to work as team and to develop critical thinking skills. These can be applied to anything post-high school.”

Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me and I’ll forget. Teach me and I’ll remember. Involve me and I’ll learn.”

We are so proud and of these special teachers who are going above and beyond to be sure our students have the opportunity to be involved in their education in a new and meaningful way. These teachers and students together are truly leading the way to a bright future.

— Hickman is over communications and strategic planning for Athens City Schools. She can be reached at Ginger.Hickman@acs-k12.org.