$1.2M to Bring Drone Technology to Students

TUSKEGEE, ALA. – Tuskegee University will provide local students with an innovative approach to learning science and technology and the chance to tackle real-life problems. The National Science Foundation has awarded $1.2 million to the university to bring drone technology to high school students and their teachers during a unique summer program.

Spearheaded by the Computer Science Department, the project will engage 30 rising 10th and 11th grade students from Macon County and Montgomery public schools annually in exciting aerial drone-based activities offered during a residential 4-week long intensive STEM Summer Academy hosted by Tuskegee University. STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an integrated way to solve real-world challenges and problems. At the academy, students will collaborate in a project-based learning setting to investigate STEM-related problems.

The three-year Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) grant will also help six teachers from the participating schools to take part in the academy each year. These teachers will design course modules based on their observation of academy activities and infuse them in their classrooms to teach high school STEM concepts, making the learning experience much more enjoyable and fulfilling for all students.

“Congratulations to our faculty for their exceptional work in securing this extraordinary award on behalf of our students,” said Dr. Brian L. Johnson, Tuskegee University president.

Learn to solve real problems
Each year of the grant, the 30 students will work collaboratively in clusters, just as professional scientists and engineers do in an industry workplace, to forge potential solutions to real-world problems that affect the communities where they live. These problems will be identified by the students from sectors such as agriculture, ecology, transportation and health. Aerial drones will be integrated as a means to collect data to inform the students’ investigations. They will also learn the computer programming needed to control the movements of their drones. While flying the drones, students will also discover important concepts such as speed, acceleration, slopes, angle of rotation, and force. Moreover, they will learn about the engineering design needed to produce a mechanical product such as an aerial drone, and the computer science technology needed to make it fly. Throughout the academy, students will discover how many of these STEM concepts interact and enrich each other.

In addition to gaining STEM knowledge, the students will learn teamwork, leadership skills, problem solving, planning skills, ethical and safe practices, and public speaking. They will also serve as role models and ambassadors for the STEM Academy and learn about careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

All the program’s activities are designed to generate excitement and desire among high school students to enroll in advanced math and science courses in high school, to orient them for studies in STEM areas in college and to pursue careers in the STEM-related workforce.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to bring this STEM initiative to the community as a part of the engagement theme for the College of Business and Information Science,” said Dr. Charlotte P. Morris, interim dean of Brimmer College of Business and Information Science.