Drones are an incredibly powerful resource for inspiring students to develop STEM skills for future careers. In this post, we explore five reasons why having them in the classroom can help to make STEM fun, engaging and inspiring.
1. They are a great way to introduce coding.
Coding in isolation is a complex concept for kids to grasp, but with just a handful of simple commands, they can program a robot to move & dance. There is something magical about the practical application of programming, and it can be used to solve problems. Drones such as the Tello Edu from DJI provide the perfect introduction to coding as students can begin to program flights with basic block-based programming and then move on to more advanced languages such as Python and Swift.
2. They can be used to learn about AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an incredibly exciting field and is currently being applied to find solutions to some of the world's biggest problems, including climate change and disease. Educational drones provide a great introduction to AI & Machine Learning through functionalities including facial and object recognition that students can deploy to allow the drone to make its own decisions, e.g. shut off the motor and land to avoid crashing into a wall.
3. They develop skills that unlock exciting careers.
Drone technology has already created many new career opportunities in architecture, urban planning and aerospace. However, using drones to teach STEM subjects in school provides the perfect environment to develop skills such as critical thinking & complex problem-solving. These 21st-century skills provide the perfect foundation for building exciting careers in the most emerging fields, such as Data Analysts and AI specialists.
4. You can take command of a whole swarm.
The Tello Edu has an excellent function that allows you to fly multiple drones in formation through the application of code and a wireless access point. Once a student can program a handful of drones to fly in a swarm, they can understand the fundamental concepts used in large-scale light show productions, just as the fantastic drone light display used in the London New Year firework display in 2021.
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5. They make learning fun.
There is often a preconceived notion that STEAM subjects are dull, but this isn’t the case. STEAM can provide an exciting and inspiring environment for learning. Especially when students can see the real-world application of the coding concepts and use them to bring advanced robots like drones to life. During the lessons, students will have plenty of ah-ha moments as they discover how they can control a drone’s actions with code and how these concepts can be used in the real world outside the classroom.
If you'd like to know more information on the endless possibilities drones can contribute to your classroom, please contact us and start optimising your classroom!
