STEM Heroes

 In this episode of the STEM Heroes Podcast, host David Young interviews Dr. Jeremy Babendure, a scientist turned STEM education advocate. Dr. Babendure shares his journey from working with fluorescent proteins in the lab to launching the San Diego Science Festival and creating the Chief Science Officer program. He discusses how these initiatives have grown globally, connecting STEM education with workforce development. Learn about innovative approaches to engaging students in STEM, building community partnerships, and preparing the next generation for careers in science and technology.

Join host David Young as he interviews Laurie Prewandowski, a technology integrator at Kearsarge Regional School District in New Hampshire. Laurie shares her experiences bringing drone technology into middle school classrooms to enhance STEM education.

Key topics covered:

• Laurie's role as a digital learning specialist
• Using drones to teach math, science, and problem-solving skills
• The Take Flight curriculum for drone education
• Engaging girls in STEM through drone projects
• Drone simulators and FPV racing drones in schools
• Real-world applications of drone technology
• Advice for educators looking to start STEM drone programs

Discover how drones are revolutionizing education and preparing students for future careers in this insightful conversation about technology integration in schools.

#STEMeducation #DronesinSchools #EdTech #MiddleSchoolSTEM

Join host David Young as he interviews Amanda Bastoni, an expert in STEM education and drone curriculum development. Amanda shares her journey from photography teacher to STEM advocate, and discusses her groundbreaking work with CAST, developing free drone curriculum for middle schools.

Key topics include:

• Innovative approaches to introducing drones in classrooms
• Strategies for engaging girls in STEM
• The importance of hands-on learning and reflection
• Overcoming challenges in implementing drone programs
• The future of drone education and its impact on STEM careers

Whether you're an educator, STEM enthusiast, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and education, this episode offers valuable insights into making STEM accessible and exciting for all students.

Don't miss Amanda's practical tips for teachers looking to integrate drones and robotics into their classrooms. Tune in to learn how drones are revolutionizing STEM education and inspiring the next generation of innovators!

In this episode of the STEM Heroes podcast, host David Young talks to Jason McKenna of VEX Robotics. Jason shares his inspiring journey from being a classroom teacher who initially knew nothing about robotics, to falling in love with teaching STEM and coding through robotics. He provides a fascinating inside look at VEX Robotics, the largest STEM education provider in the world that engages millions of students from kindergarten through college.

Jason discusses the immense value of robotics in developing critical skills like problem-solving, collaboration, creativity and computational thinking in students. He gives insights into how schools can fund and implement robotics programs, whether through grants, corporate partnerships or their own budgets.

A major highlight is Jason's description of the exciting VEX Robotics World Championship, where over 25,000 students from 70+ countries compete with robots they've designed and coded themselves. He shares incredible stories of students' enthusiasm, teamwork and ingenuity at these events.

Throughout the conversation, Jason emphasizes the importance of embracing failure and complexity in the learning process, rather than just focusing on an end goal or final product. His advice is invaluable for teachers looking to bring more engaging, real-world STEM learning into their classrooms.

Whether you're an educator, student, parent or simply someone passionate about STEM education, this inspiring episode provides a captivating look into the world of robotics competitions and their powerful impact on student learning.

In this episode of the STEM Heroes podcast, host David Young talks with Keith Pritchett, a former Army helicopter pilot turned JROTC high school instructor in Alabama. Keith shares his fascinating background, including 26 years in the Army where he worked as an air traffic controller before becoming a helicopter pilot and rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After retiring from the military, Keith became a JROTC instructor to continue mentoring and teaching youth. When Alabama provided funding for STEM education initiatives focused on computers or drones, Keith opted to integrate drones into his JROTC program. He found Drone Launch Academy to help teach his cadets to obtain their commercial drone pilot license (Part 107).

Keith discusses how he incorporated the drone curriculum into his leadership lab classes, teaching topics like airspace, regulations and emergency procedures. He shares entertaining stories of his cadets' "aha" moments when complex concepts clicked. So far, eight of Keith's students have passed the Part 107 exam.

Looking ahead, Keith plans to expand into drone mapping and have students use drones for tasks like monitoring parking lots during events. He even dreams of using drone mapping along with the school's robotics program to automatically paint parking lot lines! Tune in to hear this inspiring educator's innovative vision for using drones to prepare students for STEM careers.

Join David Young and Thomas Gabel, a high school teacher from Central Texas, as they discuss Thomas' innovative drone curriculum spanning three years of coursework. In this engaging episode, you'll learn about the fascinating journey of teaching drones to high school students, from paper airplanes to obtaining FAA Part 107 certification, real-world applications, and even internship opportunities.

Thomas shares the structure of his three-year drone program, covering principles of aviation, flight simulations, drone operations, mapping and modeling, real estate videography, search and rescue missions, and more. Discover how he incorporates hands-on experiences, industry collaborations, and real-world problem-solving to make learning engaging and relevant for his students.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, or simply interested in drones and STEM education, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiration. Tune in to learn about the challenges, successes, and valuable lessons Thomas has encountered while pioneering this cutting-edge curriculum in his school district.

Matt Ernst is an educator at Aiken New Tech High School in Cincinnati, Ohio who runs a drone class for high school students. In this episode, he discusses how he got the drone program started, the process of getting funding and community partners involved, and the real-world opportunities he provides for students.

Some key highlights:

• Students can earn 6 out of 12 required graduation points by obtaining their Part 107 commercial drone license through Matt's class
• In the class, students learn material to pass the 107 exam while also getting hands-on flight time with drones like the Tello and Phantom 4
• Students have worked on projects like filming drone video tours for a local retirement community and mapping the school's agricultural farm
• Matt partners with a nonprofit called Partnerships in Innovation and Education that helps secure grants and funding for equipment
• He advises other educators to get administrators and community partners on board to start a successful drone program

Matt shares valuable insights into implementing drones in the classroom and connecting students with practical STEM learning experiences. Whether you're an educator, student, or drone enthusiast, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

Adrian Mayo is a true STEM hero! In this inspiring episode, we hear from Adrian, a former professional clown with Ringling Brothers Circus who is now passionately educating kids about drones and technology. Adrian shares his incredible journey of how he got started teaching drone camps and workshops after being inspired by kids' excitement for drones at an after-school program.

Despite having no military background, Adrian's innovative teaching methods and dedication to helping all students learn, including those with autism, led him to become a member of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen organization. He now instructs at their annual drone camp, working alongside retired Air Force officers to inspire the next generation of engineers and pilots.

Adrian's infectious energy and moving stories of seeing kids' confidence soar as they learn to fly drones will leave you motivated. He offers wisdom for educators on getting started with drones, emphasizing the value of attending air shows to experience the thrill in person. Whether you're a teacher, student, or just looking for an uplifting story, don't miss Adrian's incredible path from clowning to trucking to becoming a passionate drone instructor changing kids' lives.

Email Adrian at [email protected]
His website is  Ileveleddrones.com

Grant Brewer, a former high school drone instructor who now works at DroneUp, joins the STEM Heroes podcast to discuss the exciting world of drone delivery and drone careers. He shares his experience teaching one of the first high school drone programs in Arkansas, covering topics like the hands-on curriculum, student projects, and preparing students for FAA drone certification.

Grant then dives into his current role at DroneUp, a leading drone delivery company partnered with major retailers like Walmart. He explains how DroneUp operates, with drones delivering packages in under 30 minutes, and discusses their new "drone ecosystem" involving destination boxes and autonomous operations.

The conversation explores the future of drone jobs, from maintenance technicians to software engineers mapping obstacles and airspace. Grant provides insights into the skills needed, like coding, GIS, and multitasking for monitoring multiple drones. He also shares advice for educators considering starting a drone program at their school.

Whether you're a student eager to pursue a drone career, an educator looking to implement drones, or simply fascinated by this cutting-edge technology, this episode offers a compelling look at the rise of drone delivery and the opportunities within the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. Check it out for an insightful discussion blending Grant's unique perspectives from both the classroom and the forefront of commercial drone operations.

In this first episode of the STEM Heroes podcast, host David Young talks to Adam Rangwala, a mechanical engineer who found his way into STEM education teaching drones to elementary school students.

Adam shares his journey from working as an aerospace machinist to consulting and then pivoting to teaching STEM skills like coding drones. He gives insights into the joys and challenges of getting 3rd-5th graders excited about programming drones like the DJI Tello using simulators and hands-on activities.

You'll hear a hilarious cautionary tale of a drone lesson gone awry due to windy conditions. Adam offers valuable advice on structured curriculum, managing classroom tech issues, and ensuring successful drone implementations in schools.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, student, or just a fan of drones and STEM learning, this episode provides an engaging look at real-world drone education. Tune in for stories, lessons learned, and words of wisdom from the trenches of teaching drones to kids.