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Workshop

Drone Coding and Engineering

Learn to code a drone, overcome challenges, discover how engineers work and how you could use drones in the future!

Drone Coding and Engineering

In our engineering workshops, we try to ‘myth-bust’ ideas that engineering is all about large machinery and hard hats! Pupils learn hands-on that technology forms a major part of engineering - whether in the making of new products, or in developing the technology itself.

We use physical coding combined with engineering to develop great habits of mind. Using engineering encourages children to follow the 'plan'-'do'-'review' process that all good scientists and engineers follow. Students get hands-on experience of learning how to code, debug, and improve a drone in different challenges. It challenges their perceptions of engineering, and demonstrates how this cutting-edge technology is being used to solve real-world challenges across the globe. 

We use our workshops to develop a desire to learn about STEM and how it is used in everyday life. Alongside this, we know that by taking part in STEM activities students develop other skills such as team working, communication, problem-solving, resilience, and much more. These workshops offer an engaging link to engineering, the curriculum, and Gatsby Benchmarks while highlighting future career possibilities.

Capacity

Minimum of 10 participants, maximum of 32 participants.

Cost

Contact us for a full quote tailored to your requirements.

Dates and location

We do not charge travel costs on top of our workshops if the location is within one hour of our office in Sandbach. Over 1 hour we will charge mileage, over 2 hours we may need to add accommodation costs on top but we can offer a full quote before purchase.

Duration

The workshops can be a half (around 2.5 hours) or a whole day (around 5 hours) and fit in with a normal school day's break and lunchtime.

Learning outcomes

  • Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects

  • Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects

  • Develop engineering employability skills

  • Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers

  • Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering

Subjects and topics

    • Computing
    • Design and Technology
    • Engineering
    • Maths
    • Physics
    • Electronics, robotics and programming
    • General engineering
    • Mechanical engineering, systems and processes
    • Medicine and healthcare
    • Space and aerospace engineering
    • Structures, construction and civil engineering
    • Transport

Gatsby benchmarks

The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:

  • Learning from career and labour market information
  • Addressing the needs of each pupil
  • Linking curriculum learning to careers
  • Encounters with employers and employees
  • Experiences of workplaces
  • Encounters with further and higher education

Essential skills

The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:

  • Aiming high - the ability to set clear, tangible goals and devise a robust route to achieving them.

  • Creativity - the use of imagination and the generation of new ideas.

  • Problem solving - the ability to find a solution to a complex situation or challenge.

  • Teamwork - working cooperatively with others towards achieving a shared goal.

What the teachers say

We would love to read all about your time with this experience!

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This day was fantastic! The students were thoroughly engaged and excited about the day, a whole loads of learning went on and as Neon say they learned through this real experience. Some of them now are considering a route into the drone industry on the back of this. Dom and Liz were excellent with the students; personable, humourous, approachable, very knowledgeable - couldn't ask for more! 5 star! *****
TOM GILFEATHER Careers Coordinator
Absolutely brilliant! Dom was a fantastic presenter and was extremely organised and knowledgeable. Brave Sue was put on drone duty and ensured the safety of the pupils. Dom was brilliant with the children and kept them engaged the entire day. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have been pestering me if we could get him back to deliver more sessions. A quote from one female year 10 student: "Miss that was sooo COOL!! I loved it can we do it again it was so so cool!" The students had so much fun and they also mentioned that they even learnt a lot from the experience. Pupils were able to name various types of engineering jobs and several uses for drones. One of my year 11 pupils was surprised to find out how drones were used in medicine and Amazon deliveries in the US. Skill Supply have helped our school raise the awareness of STEM and even spark interest in previously disinterested students. Thank you Dom and Sue for an extremely engaging and very well organised day!
Catherine Neilson Head of Physics
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