Integrating drone technology into STEM education in schools is a means to promote gender equality within the space and aerospace industries, as it entails introducing drones into STEM classrooms to cultivate geospatial professionals worldwide.
According to Brainy Insights, the commercial drone market is projected to expand from USD 31.84 billion in 2022 to reach USD 142.90 billion by 2032. Drones are transforming our ways of working in various fields, including construction, military services, surveys for different services, engineering, geology, agriculture, aerial photography, etc.
In the same way, with the advancement of technology, the use of drones is also taking an important part in the education system. It is an important part of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education system for youth. STEM education is most important in learning technology, wide fields of science, engineering, etc.
Learning drone technology is one such skill that has enormous scope in the field of engineering and technology. Drones have many manageable parts that can be customized according to the needs. So, the students get a chance to
learn how to build, design, and control, a mini drone.
In this article, we will explore the need to teach drone technology to schools, and its benefits for them, as well as their teachers.
- Enhancing the skills in problem-solving.
Even the drones have stabilizers, and the drone pilot must be familiar with the local environment.
Children should possess the ability to identify challenges pertaining to drone navigation, stability, control based on environmental factors, and programming. As children engage in drone flight, they often encounter questions about directional choices and decision-making, which contribute to enhancing their problem-solving skills.
- Encourages physical activity and social interaction.
Children could develop their skills of drone orientation and spatial awareness, fostering creativity and attention to detail as they operate these devices. Additionally, drone flying enhances their social skills through outdoor interaction and teamwork.
As an educator, it falls upon you to raise students’ awareness of the adverse consequences of sedentary lifestyles. Encouraging them to adopt healthy habits is paramount in preventing health issues, and incorporating drones into physical education can be an effective means to achieve this goal. Drones can also serve as valuable tools for monitoring and assessing student performance during physical activities.
How drones help make lesson delivery easy for teachers
Enhancing mechanical and analytical skills
The experience and knowledge gained by building a machine from scratch is irreplaceable, yet it is the most challenging practice.
If you are teaching programming, robotics, and electronics, drone building is the finest alternative. It enhances children’s analytical and mechanical skills as their task is not only putting the equipment together but also making them work.
Drones help children understand electronics. There are different electronic components necessary for the construction of the drone’s central unit. GPS, ESC, and IMU are examples of such electronic components. the creator of drones must understand the purpose of each component so they can easily reach the cause if a problem arises in drone flight.
Development of practical skills.
Students are interested in the practical implementation of theories and principles they are taught. Theory and skills are equally important for kids to learn about anything.
Drone technology is important in many fields including videography, land surveying, etc. Learning drones will also help them in learning processes like planning, problem-solving, assembling small parts, etc.
If you teach them these practical skills in the classroom, they will prepare themselves for future careers in the STEM field. You can help a student who wants to learn about surveying by helping them understand the accurate positions of the camera while flying drones.
You also must help them master safety procedures and flight techniques that help when unexpected external conditions occur during flight. If they learn to build and fly drones by themselves, they will learn different concepts including control systems, sensors, material building, and physics concepts including gravity, lift, thrust, weight, friction, etc.
Drones make it very easy for teachers to explain concepts that were not easily understandable by theoretical teaching. Teachers can give them different tasks to understand specific concepts for example, if they ask them to fly a drone on a specific path, it will help them learn programming skills and computer programs.
In the same way, they can ask them to take pictures of the landscapes. This will not only teach them to learn the use of drones for photography but also the pictures will help them to understand geological patterns.
As many teachers are interested in introducing their children to drone technology, in the same way, many parents are also concerned about it. Parents need to learn about the importance of drones and be friends with the new technologies to help their children grow.
As STEM is the new emerging education system and drones are very essential part of it, parents should involve their kids in it. If you as parents, want more details regarding the role of drones in STEM education and its importance, you must visit Drone Design Lab. They have solutions to all your queries and concerns.
Drones for science education
Your children must adapt to new technologies such as drones and these should be involved in their critical thinking and problem-solving.
Drone Design Lab is a geospatial consulting firm specializing in drone education for teachers, teaching coding with the use of drones as an educational tool. We organize various workshops and training sessions aimed at addressing your inquiries about drone technology and the process of integrating drones into European classrooms.
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References
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-technology-driving-global-commercial-drone-market-thats-projected-to-reach-142-billion-by-2032-301918596.html
- skyfilabs.com/blog/7-benefits-of-teaching-stem-for-kids-using-drones
- https://www.droneblog.com/8-ways-drones-can-be-used-for-education/
