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ERIC Number: EJ1190262
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2158-0502
EISSN: N/A
Engineering Design and Coding through Quadcopters
Bartholomew, Scott R.; Zhang, Liwei; Weitlauf, John
Technology and Engineering Teacher, v78 n1 p14-21 Sep 2018
Computational thinking, programming, coding, and analytical thinking are high-demand skills in today's educational and occupational arenas (Wing, 2006 & 2014). In addition to these skills, students need the ability to think creatively, work collaboratively, and develop design solutions to complex problems to succeed in school and a globally-connected society (Dym, et al., 2005; Grubbs & Strimel, 2015). In this article, the authors propose that a useful tool for integrating, teaching, and improving computational thinking, programming, coding, and analytical thinking skills in students resides in quadcopters. A quadcopter, also known as a "drone," unmanned aerial system (UAS), or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is a vehicle lifted by four vertically oriented propellers or rotors. Traditionally, a quadcopter consists of a frame, four electrical motors, four propellers, an electronic chip for flight controlling, a power module, a battery, and a controller. The design, use, and integration of quadcopters can introduce and assist students in a wide variety of topics from science, dynamics, and technology to electronics, engineering design, mathematics, programming, and computational thinking. Herein, the authors offer one example of a lesson plan combining engineering design, quadcopters, and computational thinking practices. The lesson overview and plan are included. The lesson plan, accompanying idea, and the resources listed are intended to be examples of potential ways quadcopters and computational thinking could be integrated into current classrooms. Teachers are encouraged to continue identifying and exploring new ways of combining engineering design and computational thinking practices through quadcopters and other technological developments.
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. 1914 Association Drive Suite 201, Reston, VA 20191-1539. Tel: 703-860-2100; Fax: 703-860-0353; e-mail: iteea@iteea.org; Web site: https://www.iteea.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive; Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A