How exciting would it be for students to design, build and fly their own drones? How cool would it be for students to have access to flight simulators in their schools? How neat would it be for students to build a wind tunnel or a robot plus have access to 3-D printers and other technologies in their classrooms? Students in several schools in the KVEC region are experiencing these and other innovative learning opportunities through funding from the Race to the Top and other grant monies.
The Atlantic, an American magazine and multi-platform publisher that provides daily coverage and analysis of breaking news, politics and international affairs, education, technology, health, science, and culture on its website (theAtlantic.com) recently featured some of the amazing projects being offered to students in eastern Kentucky in an article entitled “The Value of Bringing Drones to the Classroom”.
Paul Green, Appalachian Renaissance Initiative (ARI) Lead, briefly summarized some of the unique opportunities available to students in KVEC schools, “The article in The Atlantic is a good reflection of the innovative work going on in our schools throughout the KVEC region. Schools are moving toward implementing high-tech learning opportunities in the fields of computer science, aviation, aerospace engineering, and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). In addition, in the next few weeks, KVEC will be opening its state-of-the-art 3D motion capture studio and UAS makerspace. This studio will be unlike any other in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, merging the cutting-edge industries of computer science and UAS technologies. The lab will house 3D capture technology, both subtractive and additive advanced manufacturing equipment, and resources for drone and robotic building opportunities.”
Dr. Green explained that “the innovative work going on in our K-12 schools stretches the boundaries of what our students can do. We truly believe that by working with the youth of our region, we can create a new path forward for them and end the cycle of generations of people leaving the area to find jobs in other locations. I sincerely feel that by investing our energies and resources in our students now that they will lead our region to a brighter future.”
To access the article on The Atlantic, click on the link:
