Primary students engage with new technology in drone club

by Noell Wolfgram Evans

Up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a … drone? If you noticed something flying down the hallways at Independence Primary School, your eyes weren’t deceiving you, you were just witnessing the newest school club in action.

In November 2024, the school unveiled a new fourth-grade club centered on drones. The inaugural session saw 12 students join advisor and art teacher Mike Gruber for six, one-hour sessions before school.

The objective of the club, according to Gruber, “is to foster an enjoyable learning environment that encourages students to explore activities they may not typically experience at home or in school, all while connecting to the increasingly popular subject of drones.”

IPS Principal T.J. Ebert added, “The drone program helps to expose students to emerging technologies, sparking interest in future careers in fields like engineering, robotics and aviation.”

Ebert said there was a rush of excitement across the school when the club was announced. “Our first session filled up in just a few hours, and we anticipate that our second session will fill just as quickly due to the high level of interest from both students and parents,” he said.

Each week the club focused on a different aspect of operating this new technology. 

“We began in my art room, focusing on fundamental controls, including takeoff, landing, altitude and speed management,” Gruber explained. “Students quickly learned that even a slight adjustment to the joystick can result in significant and rapid movement of the drone, especially if not properly controlled.” 

In the art room, Gruber and his students created a figure-eight-style course using pool noodles, with the objective of completing a smooth flight through the course and landing back at the original takeoff point.

When the club members had mastered those skills (or at least could perform them safely), Gruber “upped the game.” He said, “We transitioned to the gym where we established a more complex obstacle course, incorporating figure-eight patterns and hula-hoop rings for the drones to fly through. After some practice rounds, we employed a stopwatch to track improvements in speed and direction by the end of the class.”

During the group’s final session, students took to the hallways, where they had to navigate the space while avoiding hanging projects, cabinets and even their teachers, according to Gruber.

The parent response to the club has been “overwhelmingly positive,” Ebert said. He added that it is not just the parents who have supported the club. “This program would not have been possible without the support of our PTO. We presented the idea to them, and they generously provided the funding to help purchase [DJI Mini 4] drones and other equipment.” The club currently operates with six drones.

The Independence club joins nearly 50 other school clubs across the state, according to national educational program Drones in School. School districts across the country are taking advantage of the interests, and accessibility, of drones to create classes and clubs that focus on STEM-related topics.

“The most rewarding aspect of the club as an instructor is witnessing students thoroughly engage their critical thinking skills,” said Gruber. “We frequently discuss scenarios where a drone finds itself in a less than ideal position, such as being against a wall, prompting students to pause and strategize their next move to prevent a crash. It is truly gratifying to see them take the time to consider their next actions in order to facilitate a smooth flight and evade potential hazards.”

Students walk out of the six-week program with lots of knowledge, but not a pilot’s license. Gruber said what they’ve learned in the club can set students up to earn a license down the road. 

“We do discuss pilot certification as a potential future goal, particularly for those who continue flying at home,” Gruber said. “We also emphasize the necessity of obtaining a license to operate in specific areas and the importance of adhering to these regulations.”“We see success in the drone program by observing the excitement and enthusiasm from the students,” Ebert said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see them engage with new technology and develop hands-on skills.” 

photo caption: Students maneuvered drones through an obstacle course set up in the school’s art room. Photo submitted