I have a wonderful group of students who are diverse both socially and economically! Centennial is a grade 6-8 middle school located in a rural district with a student body of approximately 600 students. Of those students, 53% qualify for free and reduced lunches and 51% are Hispanic. Outside of school, these kids do not have the opportunity to access the tools and equipment to further their education in STEM areas.
I have made it my first priority to use my Math and Engineering classes to foster an interest in STEM in order to help these kids start a path to a successful career in the technological fields of the future.
My Project
Through the generosity of grant organizations and donors, I have been blessed to be able to provide cutting-edge resources to my students that they would not be able to access outside of school. My Math and Engineering classes allow me to teach curriculum in Robotics, Biomedical projects, Electronics, 3D printing and design, and smart device design and coding. One major piece that is missing in our curriculum is an aerospace component.
DIY drone kits, such as Flybrix, give students the ability to experiment, create, customize, and learn about engineering, aerodynamics, physics, design, and geometry in a hands-on way.
Simply building and flying stays fresh and engaging time after time, especially as a project that teachers can do with aspiring pilots. The more you play the more you learn! As students become proficient in design and flying the drones, I can add the extra component of coding the Arduino-compatible "brain" of the drone to attach sensors or alter the flight dynamics.
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