Drone Racing to Educate and Advance Math (DREAM)

This project aims to engage regional communities in technical education and the workforce by contextualizing math using drones to increase math abilities and STEM performance, and address gaps in the uncrewed autonomous vehicle (UAS) and mathematics curriculum. The project aims to assess the efficacy of implementing a math and drone experiential learning environment that includes drone racing, math and drone boot camps and the development of curriculum and educational materials to build STEM abilities. The overall goal is to improve student learning with innovative programming and training components. It aims to increase capacity at the institution by creating a leadership model around math and drone usage and technology transfer/replication for faculty, teachers, and students. The initiative is based on a workforce needs assessment model and has the potential to assist with transforming the socioeconomic foundation of the surrounding communities.

The project intends to address recruitment and retention needs for a new UAS certificate to build UAS as an emerging career pathway to STEM degrees, meet workforce demands, and to increase student confidence, preparedness, and performance in math. It will integrate real-world applications, such as drone technology, into the curriculum. This initiative plans to develop math-and-drone integrated curriculum targeting both undergraduate and secondary school students through three main goals: (1) Increase math abilities and preparedness through enhanced curricular design, including collaborative research teams and innovative instructional modules for college students; (2) Implement a Mathematics and Drone Flight bootcamp to improve math confidence and academic outcomes for high school students; and (3) Establish a drone racing program to recruit and train students in advanced technological education. Research activities include pre- and post-assessments of math attitudes, STEM abilities, and academic performance. The program also intends to measure outcomes through grades, course evaluations, student journals, and engagement metrics.