High School Innovation: Conversation with Jeremy Jackson from St. Charles West High School, Grant Recipient of the 2019 Grow Rural Education Award, Focusing on Drone Usage in Education
St. Charles West High School in Missouri received a Grow Rural Education Grant in 2019, aimed at enhancing STEM education in rural areas. Jeremy Jackson, a teacher at the school, shares his experience of applying for and utilizing the grant.
Jackson, who specializes in technology education, saw the opportunity to incorporate drone technology into the curriculum. His school received a $10,000 grant, which they used to purchase 15 drones along with extra technology for the school's robotics team and video production classes.
The grant application process began with a mention from the coordinator of the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team grant, to which the school was already a recipient. Upon hearing about the larger rural educational grants, Jackson was initially hesitant, but after considering the agricultural applications of drones and the educational potential for robotics and video production, he decided to submit the application.
The grants obtained 14 Tello drones and one Mavic 2 Pro. Jackson employs drones in his robotics, advanced robotics, live video production, and short film production classes. In the robotics class, the Tellos are used for programming, while the Mavic 2 Pro is utilized for video capture.
To teach students how to fly drones safely, Jackson has designed exercises such as drone tic-tac-toe, obstacle courses, and practice missions. The Mavic 2 Pro, which is heavier and has faster spinning props, is used after students have gained competence with the Tello drones.
The First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team at St. Charles West High School competes against teams from around the world, at regional, state, and world championship levels. The competition's showcase of diverse skills and levels of robotics serves as a valuable platform for fostering STEM interest among students.
The school's robotics team is also involved in the BattleBots competition, a division of the National Robotics League, which provides additional opportunities for students to develop driving skills and work with robots.
To encourage drone safety, classroom sessions focus on flying responsibly, keeping the drone in sight, and maintaining a safe distance from people. The Tello drones, lightweight and safe for learning, help students build their flying skills without putting them or the drones at risk.
Interested in grants to enhance your school's STEM education? Bayer Fund offers a chance for farmers to nominate their local rural, public school districts to apply for $15,000 in STEM grants by April 1, 2020. For more information, visit the Bayer website.
For high school students engaging in drone-related activities or educators looking to incorporate drones into their curriculum, join the conversation in our community forum.
- St. Charles West High School, with a focus on technology education, utilized a $10,000 Grow Rural Education Grant to purchase 15 drones for their robotics team and video production classes.
- Jeremy Jackson, a teacher at the school, introduced drone technology into the curriculum after considering the agricultural applications of drones and the educational potential for robotics and videography.
- The grant applications process began with a mention from the coordinator of the First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team grant, to which the school was already a recipient.
- The grant obtained 14 Tello drones and one Mavic 2 Pro, which Jackson uses in various classes, such as robotics, live video production, and short film production.
- To teach students how to fly drones safely, Jackson designed exercises like drone tic-tac-toe, obstacle courses, and practice missions.
- The First Tech Challenge (FTC) Robotics team at St. Charles West High School competes against teams from around the world, fostering STEM interest among students.
- For educators looking to incorporate drone technology into their curriculum or high school students involved in drone-related activities, a community forum is available for discussion.
- To enhance STEM education in rural areas, farmers can nominate their local rural, public school districts to apply for $15,000 in STEM grants by April 1, 2020, through the Bayer Fund.
