Bringing Drones and Coding to the PK-12 Classroom

Purpose & objective

Objectives:
1. Participants will be exposed to a low cost STEM activity involving Drones and basic coding.
2. Participants will see a model of how to incorporate inquiry, problem solving and careers in a field students are interested in: Drone piloting.
3. Participants will leave with concrete resources and hands-on experience on how to implement this in their classroom.

The technology used (DroneBlocks app (https://droneblocks.io/) and TELLO Drones) can easily be replaced with other similar applications and drone models. The poster or playground session will give ideas on how to employ this technology as a PBL or inquiry activity, and ideas on how to vary the problem (i.e., obstacle course completion). Participants will have hands-on opportunities to explore the app and fly a drone based on the instructions they coded. The activity follows a basic inquiry format-- Can you code directions that will fly a drone through an obstacle course? The session facilitator will provide documents (graphic organizers) that help guide students through the inquiry and can be modified for use in the classroom. Note: Participants do not need to be computer science teachers or have any knowledge of coding as the session will give them the confidence and basic knowledge they need to replicate in their classrooms.

Success for participants is that they understand basic coding principals, are motivated and engaged by the activity and want to use it in their classrooms.

Outline

Poster:

Question: Can you code directions that will fly a drone through an obstacle course?

Pictures and video of students programming and flying the drones. Handouts used in the activity. Student survey data on how the experience motivated and engaged them.

If a playground:

All of the above, but space to give participants hands-on time!

Supporting research

1. https://droneblocks.io/
2. https://www.ryzerobotics.com/tello
3. https://dronelegends.com/10-ways-to-use-drones-in-the-classroom/
4. Drones in the Classroom Blog: "Engaging with drones promotes the development of essential skills such as imagination, creativity, project management, and technology proficiency. Students learn to think critically, work collaboratively, and adapt to challenges, which are vital skills for their future careers." Jul 11, 2023 (https://blog.werobotics.org/2023/07/11/learning-beyond-the-classroom-drones-in-stem-education-for-the-next-generation/#:~:text=Engaging%20with%20drones%20promotes%20the,skills%20for%20their%20future%20careers.)
5. STEM Learning Center: https://stelar.edc.org/projects/24237/profile/using-drone-technology-communal-motivation-and-strength-based-approaches
6. ISTE: https://www.iste.org/explore/In-the-classroom/Drones-give-students-control-of-their-learning
7. Drone Legends Blog: https://dronelegends.com/why-we-should-be-teaching-stem-with-drones-to-fourth-and-fifth-graders/
8. She Maps Blog: https://shemaps.com/blog/drones-in-the-classroom/
9. Work Ed Article- The Future is Now-Preparing Students for the Drone Revolution https://worked.com/blog/the-future-is-now-preparing-students-for-the-drone-revolution/
10. Journal Article- Drones in Education: a Critical Review https://turcomat.org/index.php/turkbilmat/article/view/6107