If you happen to’re a trainer, afterschool program coordinator or summer time camp director who has ever considered bringing drones into your classroom however couldn’t discover curriculum rigorous sufficient to justify it, this may lastly be the answer.
STEAM Via Drones has launched three interconnected curricula: Dronology, AeroCode and AeroPython. Collectively, the three packages are designed as a progressive pathway from foundational drone information right through Python programming and autonomous flight mission design. And it’s all a sturdy set of classes, constructed for lecturers who need greater than a one-off drone day.
The packages are already in use throughout 15+ colleges, have reached greater than 2,700 college students, and are particularly designed to increase STEM entry in rural and underserved communities the place aviation and engineering profession pathways are sometimes invisible to college students.
The packages have been constructed by Dr. La’Quata Sumter, an educator and FAA-certified drone pilot who beforehand authored youngsters’s books about drones and has now constructed one thing with significantly extra endurance: a grades 4-through-12 profession pathway that takes college students from zero drone information to real-world programming abilities.
“I didn’t create these packages simply to show college students easy methods to fly drones,” Sumter mentioned in an interview with The Drone Lady. “I created them to assist college students see themselves in science, know-how, engineering, and aviation careers. Drones are the hook, however coding, problem-solving, and confidence are the true outcomes.”
The three STEAM drone packages, defined
The three curricula are designed to construct on one another, taking college students from zero drone information to real-world programming abilities throughout what Sumter calls a grades 4-through-12 to profession pathway.
Dronology ($799)
Dronology is the entry level. It’s an introductory curriculum centered on drone fundamentals, security and real-world functions. It’s designed for higher elementary by way of highschool college students and aligns with STEM, CTE and FAA Half 107 foundational ideas. It’s overview of what drones are, how they work, why they matter and what careers they connect with in aviation, engineering and public security. It’s not nearly flying however extra about constructing the contextual information that makes every little thing else make sense.
Aerocode ($999)
AeroCode is the subsequent step. It makes use of Blockly-style visible programming with the CoDrone EDU platform to show logic, sequencing, automation and problem-solving. For college kids who’ve by no means written a line of code, visible block coding is a confirmed on-ramp, instructing structured programming considering with out the syntax barrier.
The important thing differentiator right here is the instant suggestions loop: college students write code and watch a bodily drone reply to it. That connection between summary logic and bodily end result is without doubt one of the strongest instructing instruments in STEM schooling, and it’s onerous to copy with a display alone.
Associated learn: A CoDrone EDU Evaluate — from precise college students who fly it daily
AeroPython ($995)
AeroPython takes college students from visible block coding into actual Python, the place they work with variables, loops, features, autonomous flight and mission design.
Python is without doubt one of the most generally used languages in laptop science, AI and robotics. Educating it by way of drone programming offers college students a concrete, partaking context for summary ideas that may in any other case really feel disconnected from something actual. By the top of AeroPython, college students are designing autonomous flight missions.
Why the pipeline strategy issues
One of many persistent challenges cited in STEM schooling is the shortage of continuity. A pupil may need a one-off drone day in school, get excited after which have nowhere to go along with that pleasure. Sumter designed this program to handle that precise downside. Every curriculum builds on the final, which suggests a pupil who begins with Dronology in fourth grade can progress by way of AeroCode and AeroPython as they transfer by way of center and highschool.
In idea, they’ll arriving at commencement with a portfolio of precise programming abilities and a transparent line of sight to careers in aviation, laptop science, engineering or robotics.
That pipeline design additionally makes the packages sensible for colleges making an attempt to construct sustainable CTE or STEM packages reasonably than one-time occasions. It’s no secret that there’s large worth in drone schooling in STEM settings. The problem is at all times discovering curriculum that’s rigorous sufficient to maintain engagement over time.
What’s included for educators
The packages aren’t simply lesson plans dropped right into a Google Drive folder. Every curriculum comes as a classroom-ready system that features the curriculum itself, trainer coaching and classroom-ready kits. It’s additionally an amazing choice for educators who recognize STEM however could don’t have any prior drone expertise. Sumter has accounted for that, constructing the educator assist into the package deal reasonably than assuming lecturers will determine it out on their very own.
For afterschool program coordinators and summer time camp administrators particularly, the self-contained package construction makes implementation possible with out requiring a devoted drone professional on employees.
Who these packages are for
If you happen to’re a classroom trainer seeking to combine drone know-how right into a STEM, CTE, or laptop science course, Dronology or AeroCode are pure beginning factors relying in your grade stage and present technical curriculum.
If you happen to run an afterschool program and wish one thing that may maintain pupil consideration whereas delivering real skill-building, any of the three packages match that context.
If you happen to’re constructing a workforce growth initiative (notably in communities the place aviation and tech careers really feel out of attain) the complete pathway from Dronology by way of AeroPython is precisely the type of structured, credential-adjacent programming that modifications trajectories.
You’ll be able to discover all three packages at steamthrudrones.com. Dronology is out there right here, AeroCode right here, and AeroPython right here.
Disclosure: Some hyperlinks on this article are affiliate hyperlinks. If you are going to buy by way of them, The Drone Lady could earn a small fee at no extra price to you. I solely share packages and merchandise I genuinely imagine in.
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