Official Welcome Letter - College of Engineering

 Dear PLTW Core Training Participant, Welcome to N ebraska’s Project Lead the W ay’s Professional Development Core Training. W e are committed to making your PLTW Core Training enjoyable and meaningful. It is imperative that you carefully read the following information. The training is sponsored by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s College of Engineering. Here at the College of Engineering, we enthusiastically embrace our unique role as resources for engineering instruction, research, and outreach within the state of Nebraska. We dedicate ourselves to provide the people of Nebraska with comprehensive engineering academic programs to fulfill their highest aspirations and ambitions. To learn more about the College, visit http://engineering.unl.edu. The training provides a collaborative setting where teachers are immersed in content-­‐specific, project-­‐
based instruction. It is an intensive two-­‐week instructional program that covers a year’s worth of curriculum in 10 days. Because it is such a concentrated delivery of information and materials, it is critical that participants avoid getting behind in the coursework. There is an exponentially progressive ripple effect, i.e., a black hole, which can result from missing relevant instruction. Each day the instructors will move forward with the curriculum, so it is essential that problems with the material are addressed and resolved as they occur. Due to the short duration of the Core Training Institute, the only time for remedial work or additional assistance will be in the evenings. A certificate of completion for the course is contingent on the participant’s attendance record, successful completion of all the material required in the portfolio check list, and at the discretion of the PLTW Core Training instructor(s). Completing Core Training helps prepare teachers for the implementation of a PLTW course in their school; however, it should not be considered the end of the teacher’s preparation. There will most likely be additional curriculum content that should be studied by the teacher after leaving the training and lab preparation that must be completed by the teacher before school begins in the fall. IMPORTANT NOTE An invoice is attached to your email for the costs related to the training in advance of the start date. It is important that we receive payment by the due date or a late fee of $100 will be assessed. We will abide by a very strict cancellation policy, which is included at the end of this letter. HOTEL The cost of the hotel is NOT included in your tuition fee and is the responsibility of participants and their respective schools. We have reserved a block of rooms and negotiated a rate of $95 per night including breakfast and parking at the Holiday Inn in downtown Lincoln. There will be a hotel shuttle to and from campus every day. We ask that you make your own reservations at (402) 475-­‐4011 and ask for the PLTW training rate (reference block code PCT). Alternatively, you may stay at a hotel of your choosing, but you will be responsible for your own transportation to campus every day. You will also need to purchase a parking pass for on-­‐ campus parking. We can provide you a list of area hotels. TRANSPORTATION Transportation to your hotel is not provided from the airport. If your flight destination is Lincoln, the Holiday Inn will provide a shuttle from the Lincoln airport to the hotel. Otherwise, visit http://www.lincolnairport.com for transportation arrangements. If you are flying into Omaha, it is best to rent a car to drive to Lincoln. Alternatively, you may take the Omalink shuttle (www.omalink.com). PARKING If you are NOT staying at the Holiday Inn, you must drive to and from campus every day. Parking at the University is restricted to certain lots and a parking pass is required. If you are driving to campus each day, let us know so we can provide you with a parking pass (additional charge). MEALS Two dinners (one per week) and ten lunches (one per week day) are included with your tuition fee. Individual lunches are not available for purchase. Additional meals are not included in the tuition fee and is the responsibility of participants and their respective schools. INTERNET ACCESS Guest Internet access is available at the University. AGENDA The agenda will be forwarded to you at a later date. LAPTOP REQUIREMENTS To ensure that your laptop meets all requirements, please review the laptop requirements listed on the PLTW website. Also, please make sure that you have downloaded software on your laptop computer. Prior to your arrival, make sure that all current Microsoft Windows and Office Updates have been installed as well as a licensed and current antivirus program, with the latest virus definitions installed. If your school district’s IT Department is preparing your laptop for the PLTW Core training please review these requirements with them. ITEMS TO BRING – ALL PARTICIPANTS Notebook paper/ pad Scientific calculator USB memory stick Pencils/ pens Safety glasses Closed-­‐toes shoes DRESS AND NEBRASKA WEATHER All classrooms are air-­‐conditioned; you may want to bring a sweater or sweatshirt. Summer casual dress is also recommended. Participants must be sure to wear closed-­‐toe shoes and safety glasses when in the shop/labs with equipment operation. Nebraska is typically warm in July, but could be cool or hot and humid a nd t here is always a possibility for rain, so please plan accordingly. Please keep in mind that the Core Training is not a summer camp. It might be more helpful to think of it as boot camp with nurturing, support, friends, and food. If you come prepared to work hard to work together, you will get the most out of this training experience. I am looking forward to seeing you at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your questions or concerns. Sincerely, Sally Wei Coordinator of Engineering Education and Outreach Affiliate Director, Project Lead The Way University of Nebraska – Lincoln swei2@unl.edu P: 402.472.2670 University of Nebraska – Lincoln PLTW Course Training Institute Cancellation Policy Please review the following University of Nebraska – Lincoln Core Training Institute Cancellation Policy in advance of registering for a training course. If you need additional information regarding the policy, please contact Sally Wei, PLTW Affiliate Director, at swei2@unl.edu. All cancellation requests must be submitted either via email or postal mail. If a cancellation is sent via postal mail, it must be postmarked by the noted date in order to be processed. •
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Registrations must be cancelled 30 or more days prior to the start of Core Training to receive a full refund. Registrations cancelled less than 30-­‐15 days will be refunded 50% of tuition and fees for Core Training. Registrations cancelled 14-­‐5 days prior to the beginning of Core Training will be refunded 25% of tuition and fees. Registrations cancelled less than 5 days from the start of the Core Training Institute will not be refunded any portion of the tuition and fees. Please note: •
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Refunds will be sent within four to six weeks after the Core Training Institute has concluded. If the Core Training Institute summer course enrollment drops below 4 registered teachers, the course will be cancelled. If, in the event of a natural disaster (flooding, fire, tornado, etc.), and the Core Training has to be canceled from the affiliate university perspective, then the schools/school districts will be refunded 100% of any payment that is received up until that point. Affiliate universities will give at least a 24-­‐48 hour notice, and the participants will be contacted directly. Contact: Sally Wei Coordinator of Engineering Education and Outreach Affiliate Director, Project Lead The Way University of Nebraska – Lincoln swei2@unl.edu P: 402.472.2670