Bridging the STEM Career Gender Gap: The Benefits of Using Drones and Rovers in the Classroom

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers. Women remain severely underrepresented in these fields. However, through innovative approaches in education, we can bridge this gender gap and ensure equal opportunities for all. One such approach is the integration of drones and rovers in the classroom. By introducing these technologies into education, we can not only enhance students' learning experiences but also inspire more girls to pursue careers in STEM. Let’s explore the various benefits of using drones and rovers in the classroom and how they can contribute to bridging the STEM career gender gap.

Enhanced engagement and motivation:

Introducing drones and rovers into the classroom brings real-life applications of STEM concepts closer to students. These technologies provide hands-on experiences that engage and motivate learners, regardless of their gender. Traditional classroom teaching methods often fail to capture students' attention, especially girls. However, the dynamic nature of drones and rovers sparks curiosity and encourages active participation, leading to improved learning outcomes.

Encouraging problem-solving and critical thinking:

Drones and rovers offer students the opportunity to tackle real-world problems by applying STEM principles. Working with these technologies requires students to think critically and develop problem-solving skills. By engaging in activities such as programming a drone or designing a rover, students learn to analyze information, make informed decisions, and overcome challenges. This fosters the development of essential skills needed for success in any STEM career.

Building teamwork and collaboration:

Using drones and rovers in the classroom promotes collaborative learning environments. Students work together in teams, exchanging ideas and experiences. This cooperative approach encourages inclusive participation and empowers girls to voice their opinions and contribute to the team's success. By working together, students learn how to leverage each other's strengths and build essential teamwork skills, which are highly valued in STEM careers.

Breaking gender stereotypes:

Traditionally, STEM fields have been perceived as male-dominated, discouraging many girls from pursuing careers in these areas. By incorporating drones and rovers into the classroom, we can challenge these stereotypes and create an inclusive learning environment. Girls who engage with these technologies from an early age develop confidence and realize that they too can excel in STEM. Seeing more women represented in STEM-related activities helps break down gender barriers and encourages girls to envision themselves in these careers.

Exposure to emerging technologies:

Drones and rovers represent the cutting-edge of technology, and by incorporating them into the classroom, students gain valuable exposure to these emerging fields. This exposure provides students, especially girls, with a unique advantage as they learn to navigate and adapt to the latest advancements. By gaining familiarity with these technologies early on, girls are more likely to choose STEM career paths that involve drones, robotics, or related fields, ultimately bridging the gender gap in the STEM workforce.

The question is which technologies should you look at incorporating?  Innovative technologies like Kai's Clan, CoDrone EDU, and BrownDog Gadgets' Crazy Circuits™ Rover Kits bring real-life applications of STEM concepts to students in a way that simple to use and understand.  This creates a low floor high ceiling learning environment where all students can thrive!  These cutting-edge tools provide hands-on experiences that engage and motivate learners, whatever their gender.

Traditional teaching methods in the classroom often struggle to capture students' attention, particularly girls. However, these interactive technologies, such as drones and rovers, have a dynamic nature that sparks curiosity and fosters active participation, ultimately leading to enhanced learning outcomes.

With Kai's Clan, students can immerse themselves in a world of robotics, coding, and augmented reality. They can collaborate in teams to design and program their own robots, creating interactive experiences that blend the physical and virtual worlds. This multidisciplinary approach not only strengthens their STEM skills but also encourages creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

CoDrone EDU takes learning to new heights by integrating drones into the classroom. Students can learn the principles of flight, programming, and even autonomous navigation as they explore the possibilities offered by these versatile flying robots. With step-by-step tutorials and a user-friendly interface, even beginners can take off with confidence and experience the thrill of controlling their own drone.

As for BrownDog Gadgets' Crazy Circuits™ Rover Kits, they provide an exciting hands-on learning experience in electronics and engineering. Students can assemble their own rovers using the kit components and learn about circuits, motors, and sensors along the way. By experimenting with different configurations, students can explore how these vehicles can be utilized for various tasks and challenges.

By incorporating these advanced technologies into the classroom, we can bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and their real-world applications. The interactive and engaging nature of drones and rovers empower students, regardless of their gender, to actively participate in their learning journey. With these tools, we can inspire a new generation of STEM enthusiasts who are ready to innovate and shape the future.

Instilling confidence and nurturing aspirations:

The hands-on experiences offered by drones and rovers instill confidence in students, allowing them to see their own potential in STEM fields. By successfully piloting a drone or programming a rover, students develop a sense of achievement and belief in their abilities. This confidence builds the foundation for future aspirations and encourages more girls to consider STEM careers as viable options.

Once you have opened the door for STEM careers as viable options, encourage students to dig deeper into their interests.  Further nurture their aspirations by having them complete interest surveys and research the career areas of interest.  Platforms such as Career in STEM Explorer are great ways to easily incorporate career exploration into your lessons with little to no prep time.

You might want to hand select a few companies where they promote women in STEM fields. Here are some examples:

1. American Association of University Women: This organization provides funding, research, and advocacy to support women in STEM fields.
2. Million Women Mentors: This initiative is focused on encouraging girls and women to pursue and remain in STEM jobs by sparking interest and supporting educational and professional development.
3. Experian, The New York Times Company, and Dev Technology Group: These companies are winners of the Top Companies for Women Technologists award and are committed to promoting gender diversity in their workforce.
4. Capital One and Google: These companies are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in their workforce, including supporting women in STEM fields.
5. Lucid Motors: This company is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in their workforce, including supporting women in STEM fields.
6. Nokia, 3M, and Autodesk: These companies are committed to creating better workplaces for women in STEM by recruiting and interviewing diverse candidates and creating an inclusive environment in which they'll want to grow for years to come.
7. imagi is an award-winning startup based in Sweden, offering a fresh take on EdTech, gaming, and social impact.  Originally established by 2 women in 2018, following a user-centered research project conducted at KTH University in Stockholm.  They are reshaping the landscape of the tech industry and engineering education pathways by focusing on teaching coding in a way that is appealing to ALL.

These companies are actively working to promote gender diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, and are committed to supporting women in these industries.

Build in lessons that make a positive difference in the world:

Incorporating lessons that involve helping others and more caring undertones can lead to increased female interest in STEM.  For example, one lesson plan could involve using drones and rovers to simulate a natural disaster scenario where students must work together to rescue people in need. The lesson would start with an introduction to the technology and how it can be used in real-life situations to help people. Then, students would work in groups to program and control their drones and rovers to navigate an obstacle course designed to simulate a disaster zone.

To incorporate a compassion element, the lesson could include a discussion on the importance of empathy and kindness in times of crisis. Students could brainstorm ways their technology could provide additional assistance to those in need, such as delivering food and supplies or assisting with medical emergencies.

Not only does this lesson plan incorporate hands-on experience with technology, but it also promotes teamwork and empathy. By showing how STEM concepts can be used to make a positive difference in the world, we can inspire more girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Incorporating drones and rovers into the classroom provides a multitude of benefits. Not only do they enhance students' engagement and motivation, but they also foster problem-solving skills, teamwork, and critical thinking. By breaking gender stereotypes and providing exposure to emerging technologies, drones and rovers help bridge the STEM career gender gap. It is crucial to continue encouraging educational institutions and policymakers to invest in these technologies, ensuring equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their gender. Through these efforts, we can create a more diverse STEM workforce, driving innovation and addressing the challenges of the future.