Taking STEM to New Heights

On September 12, educators joined us for Soaring into STEM: Flight, Drone Design, and High-Tech Discovery, a dynamic, hands-on professional learning experience focused on the science, mathematics, engineering, and technology behind flight. Facilitated by Dr. Angela Moran, USNA (Ret.), the workshop invited educators to explore aerodynamics and flight through the lens of drone technology. Participants investigated the forces that make flight possible—including lift, thrust, drag, and stability—while exploring how mathematics and science concepts translate into real-world applications. The experience went beyond the fundamentals of flight.

Educators explored the role of electronics, sensors, coding, motors, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and controllers in enabling controlled flight and data-driven investigations. A highlight of the day was the opportunity to see drone technology in action and learn about its real-world applications from graduate students Aaron Hancock, Gabriel Garcia, and Michael Cohen, representing the Center for Connected Autonomy and AI lab led by Dr. George Sklivanitis in FAU's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Participants left with classroom-ready strategies, lesson ideas, and project concepts designed to help students build, analyze, problem-solve, and innovate.