Drones
PA Fly Lab Community of Practice
Did you know we have a social platform for educators involved in drone programs across Pennsylvania? PA Fly Lab is a Community of Practice (CoP) where educators can connect, share classroom resources and ideas, ask questions, and stay up to date on news, events, and opportunities.
What’s Included in This Toolkit
This toolkit provides resources and opportunities to support drone education across Pennsylvania. Below is an overview of what you’ll find:
What is a Drone?
A drone, also called an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), is an aircraft that flies without a pilot on board. Instead, drones are controlled remotely by a pilot on the ground or operate using autonomous programming and sensors.
Why Do We Teach Drones?
Drone education connects students to hands-on learning, real-world problem solving, and career exploration. Drones are used across many industries, including but not limited to:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Emergency response and disaster relief
- Environmental science
- Infrastructure inspection
- Film, photography, and media
- Public safety
Drones combine hardware, software, engineering, and aviation, making them one of the fastest growing technology fields. Students in drone programs can also work toward industry-recognized certifications.
TRUST is a free online safety test required for recreational drone pilots who fly for fun or personal enjoyment. It focuses on basic airspace awareness, safety guidelines, and responsible flying.
FAA Remote Pilot Certificate
The Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration, is required for pilots who fly drones for commercial or professional purposes where the drone is used for work or compensation. This certification requires passing a proctored knowledge exam at an approved testing center and demonstrates a deeper understanding of airspace rules, weather, regulations, and operational safety.
The CSinPA team partnered with Tech Kids Unlimited to create an accessible FAA curriculum designed to engage and inspire students as they embark on their journey to becoming skilled drone pilots.
The curriculum offers a comprehensive range of lesson materials designed to enhance student learning and enrich the educational experience. Key features include effective study aids for exam preparation, resources that familiarize students with essential acronyms and terms, and assessment quizzes to track progress after each lesson. Each lesson also includes an interactive slide deck with a “Things to Remember” graphic for quick reference.
Highlights of the Drone Pilot Curriculum:
- Comprehensive Lessons
- Test Preparation Tools
- Industry Terminology
- Interactive Slide Decks
- Regular Review
- Key Takeaways
Contact us - We invite you to complete this interest form if you would like to implement the curriculum and are interested in hearing more about supports with the CSinPA team.
FAA Part 107 Professional Learning Pathway
This professional learning program prepares grades 9–12 educators to confidently integrate drone technology into classroom instruction. Participants explore key concepts from the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate exam while engaging in hands-on learning experiences that support real classroom implementation.
Using a guided instructional planning workbook, educators design a universally designed unit plan aligned to CSTA K–12 CS Standards, STEELS Standards, and/or Career and Technical Education standards. The program culminates in a capstone project where participants create a clear FAA integration plan with measurable goals and actionable next steps for bringing drone-based learning to their students.
2026 - 27 Cohort information and registration will be shared on our PD page: https://www.pattan.net/csinpapd
Drones Professional Learning Program
The program was designed to support educators in creating equitable and accessible CS learning experiences through the use of drone technology. Educators developed the skills to implement drone-based instruction and expand CS opportunities using evidence-based practices.
Check out the CSinPA Drone Initiative Engagement Map of all schools that participated in the program from 2021 - 2025.
Drone Train-the-Trainer (ToT) Program
The CSinPA team has expanded the drones professional learning program to collaborate with and train Intermediate Unit (IU) teams to support local implementation.
The ToT will continue for the 2026–2027 school year with the current IU Facilitator Teams. If you’re interested in learning more about drone education in your setting, you can consider contacting your local Intermediate Unit Drone Facilitator Team
Resources
PaTTAN Pod Episodes:
Popup Practices
In order to provide the best and most current resources and information, we continually revise our CSinPA Toolkits. You can contribute to the toolkit by submitting your questions, revisions, or resources using this form.