The Kino-Eye Center was honored to host military families for the inaugural launch of the Service First – Family Drone Days program at BP America campus in Houston on Saturday, April 7th. For info on upcoming Service First events and resources, follow us on Facebook or contact cesare@kinoeyecenter.com.
Students were introduced to the exciting world of drone technology and robotics, with a focus on engineering design, STEM education, and the development of essential leadership and teamwork skills. The curriculum, designed by Shelea Majors (Education Director), uses project-based learning as a vehicle for engaging students in math, science, engineering. She describes the experience as “irresistibly self-motivating for students, to the point that kids can’t wait to reach the classroom – an encounter so exciting that it extends beyond the school day, into a lifelong interest in STEM.”
Parents participated in career enhancement breakout sessions with Veterans Service Organizations (Combined Arms and Bunker Labs), as well as sessions on entrepreneurship and pathways for continuing education.
The goal of the Family Drone days event is to inspire students to develop the academic, technical, and critical thinking skills that will enable them to excel in the emergent global tech economy of the future. An estimated 65% of the jobs these students will fill have not yet been invented – a statistic that highlights the demand for an innovative, adaptive, and highly skilled workforce.
By engaging students in authentic engineering exercises and encouraging them to find technical solutions to real-world challenges, this program inspires kids to develop the creative problem-solving skills and technical proficiency necessary to complete complex projects (in school and industry).
According to Dr. Cesare Wright, drone technology “provides a gateway to a diverse array of engineering disciplines and STEM content areas, allowing students and DIY practitioners an unparalleled opportunity to experiment with a variety of ‘maker’ technologies, including 3D printing, coding, and hardware design.”
In addition to discussions about STEM education and career opportunities, students heard from Colonel Timothy Kopra, NASA astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station, who discussed his time in space and the technical and teamwork skills necessary to reach epic heights in engineering.
Volunteers from BP served as team mentors during a design challenge exercise, which prompted students to employ the engineering design process to identify a significant societal problem or issue and develop a drone related solution.
The strong demographic diversity of students in attendance speaks to the growing industry demand for a wide array of perspectives, socio-cultural backgrounds, and skill sets, as reflected by the observation of Kathleen Martinez, BP Senior Director of Strategic Relationships and Initiatives: “The future of engineering, particularly in the energy industry, will be built not only on technical excellence, but also on an inclusive diversity of ideas and skills. The next generation of leaders in technology must be prepared to work effectively in multi-cultural, interdisciplinary teams, and that is a key focus of the Service First program.”
Microsoft led a hands-on Minecraft Hour of Code demo, which allowed students to “create their own world” through coding and the application of computational thinking. Microsoft will host a series of followup events at the Microsoft retails stores to provide students with additional hands-on experience with cutting edge technologies.
The day culminated in the presentation of drone related projects that the students developed with the guidance of coaches from industry. The groups came up with ideas ranging from security drones designed to prevent school shootings to submersible drones that work to mitigate the impact of environmental pollution in the ocean.
Following a series of “Shark Tank” style presentations, an expert panel of judges selected the winning pitch concept – a medical drone capable of assisting first responders by providing detailed patient-specific diagnostic data, including a 3D projected hologram of injuries, pre-existing conditions, and other critical medical information.
Each student went home with a Parrot mini-drone, and we will be hosting followup sessions at Microsoft store locations to provide additional information on next steps for students interested in computer science, coding, and electrical engineering.
