WEATHERFIELD — Mineral Ridge High School students are being introduced to drones through a new entrepreneurship program and also a drone racing class.

Technology teacher Sam Amoline said the new drone entrepreneur program is called “Drones and learning” – made possible as a pilot program through a grant awarded to the Trumbull County Educational Services Center – combines drone flying with learning drone programming as well as entrepreneurial skills.

“Students learn business leadership and also learn how to code and operate drones. The ideas of entrepreneurs and leaders prepare them for the job market of tomorrow and drones are integrated into this framework,” said Amoline.

Amoline, who trained to teach the drone program, said that for the first year there were 10 juniors and seniors in the program, with students earning elective credit by taking the course. They can use five drones.

He said students also prepare for an apprenticeship at Howmet Aerospace, which sponsors the program. Company officials will come to the school to meet and interview students while learning about the program and how it prepares them.

“Students could receive potential internship offers within the company. I want students to learn the basics of coding and also gain skills for future careers and leadership skills that they can pick up in college. said Amoline.

During this course, students will get hands-on experience building, programming, piloting, and repairing drones. Students will also learn what it takes to start a business and prepare that business for real-world applications.

Students will learn through several online resources such as the Locodrone program and Junior Achievement’s entrepreneurial mindset program. Students will learn valuable leadership skills while collaborating with their peers on coding, engineering and mechanics, Amoline said.

Successful completion of this course will earn students up to 12 industry-recognized benchmarks and a Technology Seal. This will also allow students to prepare, study and pass their remote pilot certification (Part 107) so they can fly drones for commercial purposes.

Other high schools with drone programs include Southington, Warren G. Harding, Brookfield, LaBrae and McDonald.

WHAT STUDENTS SAY

Students Briaunna Wilson and Dominic Gutierrez, both juniors in the drone entrepreneur program, said they enrolled in the program to learn how to program and fly drones, noting that coding is the hardest part of the program .

“I’m looking to see if this could be a future career opportunity.” Learning to fly the drone is very interesting,” Gutierrez said.

He said you have to spend time programming the drones so they can fly and do what you want them to do.

“We had to learn how to fly the drone through the door and down the hallway. They were both fun,” Wilson said.

Amoline also teaches a second course on drone racing that began last school year as a semester course allowing ninth through 12th grade students to compete in local drone racing competitions, which began as an extracurricular activity.

He said this school year there will be a full-year course with 24 students learning how to repair and operate drones and do custom 3D printing jobs to create drones.

“The competition is amazing because it not only teaches them how to fly a racing drone, but also how to prepare before the competition. Some students are really good at using commands. They create a portfolio of all the difficulties they encountered while manufacturing and programming the drones. They work on marketing and team branding. They learn teamwork and collaboration skills to keep the drone running. » said Amoline.

He said three teams would compete.

“I am impressed that the students are mastering flying so quickly. They wear special glasses to actually see what the drone sees,” Amoline said.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

High School Principal Joe Stevens and Superintendent Damon Dohar work to keep schools up to date with technology needs and programs.

“They wanted to offer cutting-edge programs that teach students the skills they will need for the future. Drones are evolving every year and in the future,” said Amoline.

“When they (TCESC) announced the drone entrepreneurship program, it was an opportunity I wanted to make sure our students had,” Stevens said.

He said the district administration is always looking for new ways to engage students and improve their education.

Stevens said the district also offers an esports class with a team that competes after school. There is also a 3D printing course.