STEM EDUCATION & RC AIRPLANES

As more of our daily lives become dependent on computer programmers and engineers, schools are turning to STEM (Science Technology Engineering and mathematics) curriculum to teach students the skills that they need to someday work in these fields.

- HUGH RYDER

Some schools have turned to model aviation, not only to teach their students the STEM curriculum, but also to teach problemsolving and teamwork skills. Private companies and clubs also contribute to STEM education in the community.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

One of the schools using model aviation to teach STEM principles is West Michigan Aviation Academy, a private school primarily educating its students through aviation. The students are studying to eventually get careers in a field of the aviation industry. One of these fields is in UAVs, or drones. The students study every aspect of building, flying, programming, and testing these UAVs. Before taking their introduction to UAVs class, they must take an Intro to RC aviation class. In this class, students learn to build and fly RC airplanes and study the physics behind the aircraft.

Another school that offers an aviation-based STEM curriculum is the Raisbeck Aviation High School. It is a private school that teaches all of its subjects through the lens of aviation. The school prepares its students for careers in fullscale aviation or UAVs. Among the numerous course offerings, students can elect to take a class on Unmanned Aerial Systems, or drones.