PLTW Biomedical Sciences
Each class offers a unique experience where the student encounters real life issues/medical complications where they research the concept and perform a task (i.e. track an infection while it spreads across a college campus, diagnose diabetes using human samples, or building a model portraying the bones and muscles of a human.), These courses are meant to be taken in order.
Students that are interested in the course need to have good study skills, need to be organized, and most importantly need to be able to work independently everyday in the classroom. Most concepts in the classes are based on biological concepts, so it is highly recommended that a student completes a Biology course and scores well in it before taking a PLTW biomedical sciences class. Each course is an entire year long and at the end of the year, each student will take an End of Course (EOC) assessment where college credit (up to 3 credits/test) is available to students who score well.
Due to the EOC it is highly recommended that a student joins the class at the beginning of the year, any students joining the class late will miss valuable information that they will be required to know for the EOC. These courses are not only excellent ways to prepare students for college, as the level of work and expectations are college level, but also to help students decide if a career in the sciences are right for them, as many of the experiments and research are the same types used by biomedical professionals.
Principles of Biomedical Science
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite(s): Biology, PLTW Biomedical Sciences, PLTW Human Body Systems, PLTW Medical Interventions
Length: 2 quarters
The course begins with a mystery. A woman in her mid-forties has been found dead. The students need to determine clues to her death. They review six major body systems and analyze an autopsy report.
Human Body Systems
Open to Grades: 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite(s): Biology, PLTW Biomedical Sciences
Length: 2 quarters
Students examine the processes, structures, and interactions of the human body systems to learn how they work together to maintain homeostasis and good health. Using real-world cases, students take the role of biomedical professionals and work to solve medical mysteries.
Medical Interventions (Capstone)
Open to Grades: 11, 12
Prerequisite(s): Biology, PLTW Biomedical Sciences, PLTW Human Body Systems
Length: 2 quarters
Students investigate a variety of interventions involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease as they follow the lives of a fictitious family. The course is a “how-to” manual for maintaining overall health and homeostasis in the body as students explore how to prevent and fight infection; how to screen and evaluate the code in human DNA; how to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer; and how to prevail when the organs of the body begin to fail. These scenarios expose students to the wide range of interventions related to immunology, surgery, genetics, pharmacology medical devices and diagnostics.
PLTW Computer Sciences
Hamilton offers two PLTW Computer Science courses: PLTW Computer Science Essentials and PLTW Computer Science Principles.
Computer Science Essentials
Computer Science Essentials exposes students to a diverse set of computational thinking concepts, fundamentals, and tools, allowing them to gain understanding and build confidence. Students use visual, block-based programming and seamlessly transition to text-based programming with languages such as Python® to create apps and develop websites, and learn how to make computers work together to put their design into practice. They apply computational thinking practices, build their vocabulary, and collaborate just as computing professionals do to create products that address topics and problems important to them.
Computer Science Principles
Using Python® as a primary tool and incorporating multiple platforms and languages for computation, this course aims to develop computational thinking, generate excitement about career paths that utilize computing, and introduce professional tools that foster creativity and collaboration. While this course can be a student’s first in computer science, students without prior computing experience are encouraged to start with Computer Science Essentials. Computer Science Principles helps students develop programming expertise and explore the workings of the Internet. Projects and problems include app development, visualization of data, cybersecurity, and simulation. PLTW is recognized by the College Board as an endorsed provider of curriculum and professional development for AP® Computer Science Principles (AP CSP). This endorsement affirms that all components of PLTW CSP’s offerings are aligned to the AP Curriculum Framework standards and the AP CSP assessment.