Note: As of March 2024, the FAA requires all drones over 249 grams to comply with new Remote ID rules. To comply, the drone must broadcast its location and identification. RubiQ drones, which students build as a part of the Discover Drones curriculum, are over 249 grams and are therefore subject to Remote ID rules. But don't worry! Though RubiQ drones don't have the internal technology to broadcast ID information, there are two ways to comply with the regulations.
- Educators could apply for a FRIA (FAA-recognized identification area) sponsored by their educational institution. This provision is specifically for schools and universities, and we'd recommend this option first, since you don't have to buy any new tech. When drones operate inside of the defined area, they can be flown without Remote ID equipment. Discover Drones packs include curriculum with guidance on establishing a FRIA. You can also apply for a FRIA on the FAADroneZone website.
- The other option is to attach Remote ID modules onto your drones. These devices broadcast ID information about the drone to comply with the FAA's requirements. For more information on how you can obtain a Remote ID module, contact us!
For drone solutions under 249 grams which do not require Remote ID, we also offer the CoDrone EDU packs and the Coding with Drones kit. And of course, FAA regulations do not apply to drones flown indoors, so if your center of operations is a gym, classroom, or auditorium, you don't have to worry about the new rules.
About Discover Drones
The Discover Drones kits, created by the PCS Edventures team, are amazing classroom resources. As drones remain important tools in our economy, schools are emphasizing educational experiences around their applications, uses, and capabilities. Perhaps the best part of drone education is its potential to teach different areas of STEAM. With programmable drones, for example, computer science teachers can focus on coding, while other drone kits highlight the use of drones in entertainment. Students might also use drones in a photography class or geography class. There's even the opportunity to use drones in CTE classes to prepare students for 21st century careers. In any case, the Discover Drones classroom packs offer educators a robust solution to take STEM learning in any direction.
Educators can choose between the two-drone Club Pack, the five-drone Classroom Pack, or the two larger Premium Packages. Each of the Premium Packages comes with extra tools, accessories, racing materials, and a storage unit for either seven or 10 drones. Whether teachers utilize the drones in summer camps, afterschool clubs, or in classrooms, the Discover Drones curriculum creates in-depth learning experiences by engaging students in real-world lessons. The hands-on nature of the drones provides a significant boost in educational value—students' first task is assembling the drones themselves.
The PCS Edventures team has made drone assembly as easy as possible. The included parts connect easily and come apart without any struggle. They have small, yellow, one-way connectors to help kids plug each part in correctly. Each piece only fits one way, which helps eliminate potential electronics and safety risks as kids build the drones. Best of all, there's no soldering required to build the Discover Drones products.
Digital Discover Drones classroom content.
The sweet spot for these drones and the accompanying curricula is in Grades 7–12. Each of the Discover Drones classroom packs comes with tons of student and educator materials, including lessons in engineering and technology. Students can use the drones at a ratio of 3:1 (three students per drone). In other words, the 7-pack can serve a class of up to 21 students, while the 10-pack is suitable for as many as 30. No matter the size, Discover Drones classroom kits include the Educator Guide, student activity LABCards, a Droneology piloting course, and access to the FPV Freerider flight simulator. The Educator Guide serves as a handbook that can help educators become both drone ambassadors and expert pilots. With information on topics from flight guidelines to safety information, the Educator Guide provides teachers with everything they need to launch right into lessons.
Along with the Educator Guide, the Discover Drones classroom kits provide plenty of student resources. The LABCards help educators create a completely student-centered experience. They include instructions for step-by-step projects and afford educators with more flexibility to coach students through learning rather than simply showing them everything. Students can use the LABCards to lead their own independent work and discovery. They'll use the cards along with the Droneology course to lay a piloting foundation. From there, they'll receive training on the Freerider flight simulator and then explore a final design project. Participating in this project is their opportunity to apply what they've learned and show their teachers how they can use these skills in open-ended problem solving.
How does Droneology work?
To supplement the hands-on portion of learning with the Discover Drones system, the online Droneology course features digital resources that fill in the gaps. It's fast-paced and interactive, which is great for preparing pilots of all skill levels to take to the skies. Throughout the course, students learn more about key drone topics, including safety, regulations, flying basics, and the many ways drones can be used. Although students can access Droneology from computers and laptops, it's also optimized for mobile devices.
Finally, with the FPV Freerider tool, students run flight simulations to complete their training. Logging hours on this flight simulator before piloting a physical drone is actually a requirement within the Discover Drones curriculum—a unique and useful touch. Using a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, students can perfect their skills without the risk of a crash. Plus, the first-person views (FPV) develop an instinctive approach to flight that students will carry into real-world piloting.
What's in the Discover Drones classroom kits?
Discover Drones kits come with an extensive collection of physical components. Along with the drones themselves, the kits contain assembly and repair tools, two spare motors per drone, two LiPo batteries per drone, radio controllers, FPV goggles, safety glasses, controllers for both the flight simulator and real-world flight, and much more. They also come with the aforementioned LABCards, Educator Guide, and compartmentalized storage bins. To find the full parts list for each kit (there's plenty more inside), click below to visit our store.
With the drones and the carefully designed curricula, students also have the chance to learn key habits of mind. Strategically outlined by the PCS Edventures team, these thinking habits include applying past knowledge to new situations, managing impulses, practicing persistence and accuracy, taking responsible risks, thinking independently, and communicating clearly. Such habits align well with common SEL skills students need for future careers. Plus, students could develop other soft skills and information-age skills as well, like communication, collaboration, creativity, innovation, initiative, and self-direction.
Scaling STEM lessons with Discover Drones.
One of our favorite features of the Discover Drones classroom kits is the ability to scale the curriculum up or down to meet students' needs and abilities. In fact, the curriculum's versatility helps cover the most important content quickly—in a short summer camp, for example—or stretch it over a semester-long unit. The curriculum guides include unique insights that help teachers create connections to other key subject matter. The Discover Drones content, unlike other popular educational drones, does not include coding, for example. However, it does connect drone functions to science principles like forces of motion or engineering. Thus, students can draw links between classroom learning and hands-on drone instruction.
Building skills for the future.
With the skills they'll learn, kids can eventually succeed as commercially viable pilots, surveyors, search and rescue specialists, and more. This, of course, is a great way to connect the Discover Drones system to CTE classes or the school STEM curriculum. The different elements of drone operation go a long way in helping them build technical skills that apply to plenty of future careers. At the same time, they'll build a more in-depth understanding of drone technology along the way.
Using Discover Drones solutions in the classroom or in afterschool programs.
There's a lot that goes into making these drone education kits optimal for classroom learning, afterschool STEM programs, or camps. If you have any questions about the Discover Drones classroom kits, feel free to contact us or explore the packages below. For more on STEM education and innovative teaching, follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Subscribe to our newsletter, too, for all of our latest product offerings, and feel free to share this post within your STEM education community.
