Donald McCoy, a STEM consultant and retired engineer, right, flies a drone with the help of his iPad during a demonstration to New Hope Elementary School students.
Donald McCoy, a STEM consultant and retired engineer, led all students at New Hope Elementary School in activities to use strategies involving science, technology, engineering and math.
Students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade assembled in the school’s multipurpose room on May 20, to participate in the activities and hear McCoy’s presentation.
“Technology is anything that makes life better,” McCoy told the students.
Teachers at New Hope Elementary School gather around Donald McCoy, right, as they help him gather materials for students to make their own hoopsters in a STEM activity at the school.
He proceeded to explain how everyday items, like a pair of shoes, make life better for people. He also used a drone to illustrate some of the latest means of technology for the students. He programmed the drone to fly above the students in the room. The drone was being controlled by McCoy through his iPad. He provided students with details on how he used math to program the drone on the iPad and compared the drone to birds flying. His explanations included scientific data on how birds and man-made aircraft can fly.
His visit was completed by having students work in small groups to create their own “hoopsters.” These crude devices are simply made with a plastic drinking straw with two paper rings, about an inch in diameter and about three inches in length, taped to each end of the straw. Once students completed their hoopsters, they competed at each grade level to see which hoopster would float the furthest through the air. McCoy helped his student volunteers who were flying the hoopsters to measure how many feet their creation traveled.
“It’s important that students understand how much we use these techniques in our everyday lives,” McCoy said. “They can see with this activity how we use science and math, as well as engineering for the design. And, they create technology by making their own device capable of flying through the air. It’s a very hands-on experience and they usually really enjoy it. That’s important, because they are learning and having fun at the same time.”