Inside the library of Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School, eighth-grade students huddle around drones, their eyes fixed on the screens as they navigate their latest challenge. Whether simulating hurricane relief efforts or coding drones to detect sharks along coastlines, the students are immersed in hands-on STEM learning.
The school’s Drone Legends program at 5345 W. 99th St., in Oak Lawn, is reshaping how students engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The initiative, which launched in February, provides students with real-world applications of STEM through interactive drone-based missions.
“The program reimagines STEM education by using drones to engage middle school students in hands-on, real-world missions,” said Heather McCarthy, media specialist at Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School. “It fosters teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.”
Each session begins with a video showcasing a real-world problem and how drones are used to solve it.
Students then work in teams, taking on roles such as pilot, observer and safety supervisor, as they navigate ten interactive missions designed to introduce them to engineering concepts and problem-solving. They might learn drone basics while simulating hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, or program drones to detect sharks near beaches to enhance swimmer safety. In another challenge, drones are coded to scan Martian craters for signs of life, while a separate mission explores how drones can aid in pollination to address the declining bee population.
Students said the hands-on experience is what makes the program so engaging.
“What I like about the drone program is that you get to learn about real-life situations, and how you can use drones to stop these situations,” said Nathan Galvan, 14, of Hometown. “Being able to learn more and more every other week about these drones is so much fun, and I would never want to stop.”
For others, the program’s coding component is the biggest draw.
“What I like best about the drone program is learning to code the drones,” said Rayan Hamdi, 13, of Oak Lawn. “Instead of free flying, you can create code, launch the drone, and watch it complete the code. I also think it’s awesome that the drones can take photos and videos.”
Some missions require students to program the drones to perform specific movements. Ezekiel Fernandez, 13, of Oak Lawn, enjoyed a wildfire prevention challenge in which students had to make their drones flip to simulate dropping a “dragon egg” that would stop the spread of fires.
“The coolest part of the drones is making them flip,” he said.
Currently, 50 eighth-grade students participate in the program, meeting every other Wednesday in the school library. Due to its popularity, the program is expanding next year to include sixth and seventh graders, giving even more students the opportunity to develop drone piloting, coding and engineering skills.
The program is funded by Dr. Theodore Gasteyer and the Oak Lawn Education Foundation, which have been longtime supporters of STEM initiatives at the school. In addition to the drones, Gasteyer has previously provided students with 3D printers and other hands-on STEM resources.
McCarthy said seeing students fully engaged in the process is one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.
“Each mission challenges students to apply STEM concepts in an engaging way,” she said. “They learn problem-solving, collaboration and leadership, all while working through real-world challenges.”
With technology and engineering playing an increasing role in today’s workforce, Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School’s Drone Legends program is giving students a head start in the future of STEM education one flight at a time.