How to create an after school drone club
Where to Start:
1. Envision the End Result
2. Identify Your Obstacles
3. Create an Outline for Your Audiences
4. Provide Options for all Students
5. Prioritize Safety and Fun!
1. Envision the End Result
2. Identify Your Obstacles
3. Create an Outline for Your Audiences
4. Provide Options for all Students
5. Prioritize Safety and Fun!
1. Envision the End Result
When creating an after school drone club, we must first think with the end in mind - that means determining what our goals are and what success looks like.
When we created our educational programs for grades K-12, the first thing we looked at was how our drone class would fit with a schools normal routine.
For elementary schools, that opportunity is typically after school, for 1-hour, and with some schools that fits perfect with their early release schedule.
When looking at drone clubs for grades 6-12, after school is packaged in the form of sport or STEAM clubs and the goal is focused more towards certification and commercial training.
This is perfect for this age groups since the minimum age to earn a commercial drone license in the US is 16 years old!
When creating an after school drone club, we must first think with the end in mind - that means determining what our goals are and what success looks like.
When we created our educational programs for grades K-12, the first thing we looked at was how our drone class would fit with a schools normal routine.
For elementary schools, that opportunity is typically after school, for 1-hour, and with some schools that fits perfect with their early release schedule.
When looking at drone clubs for grades 6-12, after school is packaged in the form of sport or STEAM clubs and the goal is focused more towards certification and commercial training.
This is perfect for this age groups since the minimum age to earn a commercial drone license in the US is 16 years old!
2. Identify Your Obstacles
The next step when deciding if you’re offering elementary, middle, or high school curriculum (If you’re doing all and need a helping hand, reach out to us!) would be to identify what might hold you back from having a successful program.
For example, if you’re wanting to offer an in-person, after school drone club, but the school property is in a No-Fly Zone, you would want to plan ahead for obtaining COA’s (Certification of Authorization) and mapping out TFR’s (Temporary Flight Restriction) dates.
On the other hand, for a high school certification program offered during school hours, you could either provide an instructor in-person, via Zoom, or create a video course.Each structure has it’s own operational process which is something to keep in mind from the start!
The next step when deciding if you’re offering elementary, middle, or high school curriculum (If you’re doing all and need a helping hand, reach out to us!) would be to identify what might hold you back from having a successful program.
For example, if you’re wanting to offer an in-person, after school drone club, but the school property is in a No-Fly Zone, you would want to plan ahead for obtaining COA’s (Certification of Authorization) and mapping out TFR’s (Temporary Flight Restriction) dates.
On the other hand, for a high school certification program offered during school hours, you could either provide an instructor in-person, via Zoom, or create a video course.Each structure has it’s own operational process which is something to keep in mind from the start!
3. Create an Outline for Your Audiences
After you’ve created your program in detail, it’s time to step back and give it an overview look. Outline the milestones and important phases each student will experience so that your goals can be understood and shared easily.
For ages below 15 years old, our focus is on the basics of takeoff, aerodynamics, airspace safety, and hands-on skills with flying. For ages above 15, the priority shifts to certification training and career development. Since the industry of drones is ever-changing, so should be our curriculum and industry applications that are being taught.
Those outlining principles should be shown in your course outline to future students of your drone club so they understand the value provided.
After you’ve created your program in detail, it’s time to step back and give it an overview look. Outline the milestones and important phases each student will experience so that your goals can be understood and shared easily.
For ages below 15 years old, our focus is on the basics of takeoff, aerodynamics, airspace safety, and hands-on skills with flying. For ages above 15, the priority shifts to certification training and career development. Since the industry of drones is ever-changing, so should be our curriculum and industry applications that are being taught.
Those outlining principles should be shown in your course outline to future students of your drone club so they understand the value provided.
4. Provide Options for all Students
One of the aspects of programs that have variant options is the choice of a drone at the end of the after school program. Some children might already have a drone or might not be able to fly at home, so providing that option, with a price adjustment to cost, accommodates all.
On the flip side, our Racing Clubs offered to the same group only has one option that includes the drone in the pricing because each student would be expected to fly with the same aircraft.
One of the aspects of programs that have variant options is the choice of a drone at the end of the after school program. Some children might already have a drone or might not be able to fly at home, so providing that option, with a price adjustment to cost, accommodates all.
On the flip side, our Racing Clubs offered to the same group only has one option that includes the drone in the pricing because each student would be expected to fly with the same aircraft.
5. Prioritize Safety and Fun!
Our airspace is one of the most important aspects of our planet so we should always treat it only with respect for others and ourselves.
That being said, airspace safety should be taught with all programs. Don’t hesitate to mix in some memorable quotes or rhyming Oaths to spark some smiles, because learning is a by-product of having fun!
Our airspace is one of the most important aspects of our planet so we should always treat it only with respect for others and ourselves.
That being said, airspace safety should be taught with all programs. Don’t hesitate to mix in some memorable quotes or rhyming Oaths to spark some smiles, because learning is a by-product of having fun!
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