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Drones in Education
The inclusion of drones in instructional activities allows for students to have concrete examples of how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) concepts are applied and utilized in the real world. Frequently a short exposure to robotics can have a lasting impact on students to pursue complex careers that they may have never considered. This is important as it is projected that the nation will have up to 8 million STEM jobs by 2018 (Langdon, McKittrick, Beede, Khan, & Doms, 2011).
The use of drones is growing in momentum in the work place. Applications are no longer limited to military or police operations. Scientists, construction workers, realtors, first responders, sports teams, band directors and many more professionals are finding the utility of these quad copters fueling a demand that this technology will quickly become a staple for college and career readiness.
In schools, drones are rapidly expanding in use and versatility. In science and engineering classes, students are building drones and writing programs to steer them. School administrators are utilizing the technology to create marketing materials for YouTube channels and websites, showcasing their school and grounds from a bird’s eye view. Sports programs are utilizing drones to record the action in fields below. In the curriculum, drones present a possibility of a broad range of applications. Just to take a simple flight or plan a route, students need to consider weight, height, angles, and speed. The key to the learning experience is to reinforce content knowledge with technology, in this case drones. The drones grab the students’ attention and engage them in an activity while they are applying and mastering the skills that they learned during instruction.
Drones in Education (ISTE, 2016) was written for educators who want to incorporate drones into their curriculum but have no idea where to start. It will cover all that you need to need to know to get off of the ground with a drone program in your school. It covers such basic but important information as which drones need to be registered and where you can fly them. It also provides recommendations as to the drones that are best for specific students’ age levels and subject areas. Complete with lesson plans, real-world applications, and tips on securing funding for drones, the information provided here will offer you everything you need to know to start using drones in the classroom.