The session will feature informal STEM learning activities to stimulate Idaho youth across Idaho and beyond. The Idaho Drone League (iDrone) was launched to inspire the next generation’s workforce through engagement with informal STEM research and education. Over the past years, Idaho youth (middle/high school students) participated in hands-on drone workshops in multiple locations. Thus, since 2018, the iDrone program has been conducted in three major cities, including Boise (Idaho South), Moscow (Idaho North), and Pocatello (Idaho East) to engage sixth to eleventh graders in STEM education using drones. Subsequent event titled “IDRONE Summer CAMP” was also held in the Treasure Valley in 2019. During the camp, students built and flew drones with smartphones, learned to program and fly drones with software, reviewed federal regulations and safety guidelines, explored drone research applications, developed futuristic drone concepts/engineering design, and interacted with local drone professionals who address real-world problems. Starting 2020, the iDrone headquarter (IDRONE HQ) located in Boise started broadcasting iDrone curriculum online to benefit more Idaho youth during the global pandemic (COVID-19). It was very successful and productive in the sense that students had experienced hands-on STEM learning under the unprecedented circumstances. More than 2000+ students have been influenced by iDrone program so far and teaching strands and lesson learned from iDrone program will be shared with the broad IETA participants at the venue. To find more information about iDrone program, visit at:
https://www.idroneprogram.org.
