Have you thought about hosting STEM challenges and competitions in your school or classroom? It might be easier than you think! If you’re looking to boost student engagement this year, the team at CoDrone EDU has exciting resources and drones your students will love.
Robolink makes robotics and emerging educational technology solutions that give all students access to real-world STEM learning experiences. Hosting STEM challenges and competitions in your classroom can build engagement, retention, and future readiness. You can use CoDrone EDU to help boost excitement in your classroom from the very first flight.
In today’s blog post, we’ll look at how CoDrone EDU lets students program with Blockly and Python to fly their drones!
Boosting Student Engagement with CoDrone EDU
Have you or your students flown a drone? Drones will certainly grab your students’ attention, but it’s more than a shiny or flashy technology. CoDrone EDU was designed specifically for classrooms by a team of former educators. and provides a unique opportunity for students to build STEM and computer science skills.
CoDrone EDU is a drone made for learning and has even been approved for the REC Foundation’s Aerial Drone Competition. If you’re familiar with the REC Foundation’s worldwide VEX Robotics competition, this is the version with wings. This STEM competition embodies the spirit of friendly competition, collaboration, and learning from mistakes.
In addition to a one-year warranty, each CoDrone EDU kit has a programmable drone (students can code it in Python or start from the basics with block-based coding) and a smart controller. There are extra propellers, landing pads, and a Quickstart Guide, and select Classroom Packs come with PD.
When you receive a CoDrone EDU Classroom Pack to use with students, you’ll notice the drones’ programmable lights, color sensors, front range sensors, bottom range sensors, and more. CoDrone EDU is designed for classrooms and is safe, durable, and easy to use. If you want students to participate in STEM competitions, it’s an excellent way for kids to learn coding and engineering skills.
As you can see in the video below, the CoDrone EDU is perfect for bringing student coding to life. Instead of keeping them on a screen, they can see their coding take flight. Students can explore lessons that teach them all about coding, computer science skills, and getting their drone in the air. Teachers can use the standards-aligned lessons to ensure they’re addressing all of their classroom goals.
Benefits of Hosting STEM Challenges & Competitions
Educators looking to engage students with CoDrone EDU have options all year long. In class, you can challenge students with fun activities and align them to standards across subjects:
- Set up a mini soccer field. Have teams program the CoDrone EDU to navigate and “kick” a small ball into the goal.
- Prompt students to program the CoDrone EDU to follow a flight path that reflects summer travel plans.
- Use drones to explore and document local “environments and communities” within the classroom. Measure and document incline, terrain (color-coded), distance, and landmarks.
Come spring, you can also create and register a team for the Aerial Drone Competition and give students an opportunity to compete at regional championships. If you’re making the case for hosting STEM competitions in your school this year, here are a few top benefits of implementing these ideas.
Build coding and computer science skills across grade levels
STEM competitions provide an excellent opportunity for students at all grade levels to develop coding and computer science skills. Whether they are beginners or more advanced learners, tools like CoDrone EDU cater to a wide range of abilities. Students can start with Blockly, an intuitive drag-and-drop programming interface. For students trying out coding for the first time, this is a great way to get started. They can see their work in action as their drone takes flight.
Students with more experience can transition to using Python. They can preview their Blockly code in Python, then open that code as a Python program. Python is a versatile and widely used programming language that students will see in careers that leverage computer science skills. This progression from Blockly to Python ensures that all upper elementary to high school students can participate and grow their skills at a pace that challenges and excites them.
Bring the engagement of competitions into classrooms
Competitions spark a natural sense of excitement and motivation in students. As the official drone for the Aerial Drone Competition for the past three years, CoDrone EDU can transform typical classroom activities into dynamic, goal-oriented learning experiences.
Whether you’re going through Robolink’s Basecamp lessons, devising your own STEM challenges, or participating in official competitions with your students, you can help kids build teamwork and problem-solving skills while creating a memorable, high-energy learning experience!
Get students career-ready with relevant, real-world challenges
One of the standout features of STEM competitions is their ability to connect classroom learning with real-world applications. CoDrone EDU’s standards-aligned curriculum and mission packs go beyond basic coding and computer science concepts. They immerse students in scenarios that mirror actual career challenges. From environmental science to cybersecurity, students can tackle these hands-on problems.
You’re not just boosting engagement by incorporating STEM competitions into your school’s programming. You’re also equipping students with opportunities that may spark their interest in various STEM fields.
How to Get CoDrone EDU in your classroom
If you’re a teacher ready to try out a CoDrone EDU or host a STEM competition this school year, you’ll want to explore all available options. On this page, you can shop for a single CoDrone EDU and a 12-pack or 18-pack of devices for your students.
If you’re a school or district leader who wants to bring STEM competitions to your students, you can schedule a demo to learn more about what is possible.
Are you heading to an EdTech event like FETC or TCEA this year?
Both conferences are on my calendar. If you are heading to one of these events, you can sign up to get a hands-on demo and book a time to fly to CoDrone EDU. Use the links above to grab your spot!
