Future Ready AI Learn. Create. Lead.

Career-connected • Grades 6–12 • Young adult & adult

Drone Career Explorer

A progressive drone-education pathway where learners explore how flight, data, safety, and human judgment work together to solve real-world problems — from middle school through professional readiness.

Visit the Drone Career Explorer SiteSee the Pathways
  • Grades 6–8
  • Grades 9–12
  • Part 107 readiness
Andrea Davis-Baptiste with the Future Ready AI student puppets and robot at a flight-planning table with a drone, controller, aeronautical map, and workbook.

Pathway map

One curriculum. Multiple entry points into drone careers.

Drone Career Explorer has its own full website with every unit, resource, and readiness pathway. Start here, then continue on the full site.

Systems & CareersGrades 6–8 • 6 units • Culminates in the Drone Career Challenge Applied AnalysisGrades 9–12 • 9 units • Culminates in a Capstone Mission Proposal Advanced OperationsYoung adult & adult • 14 modules • BVLOS and organizational readiness

Part 107 knowledge readiness

For learners ready to move from exploration toward the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. Knowledge preparation only; the FAA issues the certificate.

Explore Part 107 preparation →

Standards connections

Designed with connections to ISTE Standards for Students, CSTA K–12 Computer Science Standards, and NGSS Engineering Design. Connections inform the design and don't imply endorsement.

Review standards & credentials →

Flexible implementation

Use the full grade-band pathway, selected modules for STEM or CTE, or a short pilot or workshop. Simulation and supervised flight can be added where local resources allow.

Schools & partners →
Visit the full Drone Career Explorer siteOpen the Program Overview (PDF)

Middle school overview

Middle School at a Glance

Students begin by seeing drones as part of a connected system of people, technology, data, process, purpose, safeguards, and human decisions.

  • Grades 6–8
  • 6 Units
  • Project-Based
  • Simulation Pathway

Open the Grades 6–8 Curriculum Preview (PDF)

Explore the Grades 6–8 pathway on the drone site ↗

High school overview

High School at a Glance

High school learners analyze evidence, mission constraints, automation, industry workflows, logistics, and the human accountability behind drone-enabled solutions.

  • Grades 9–12
  • 9 Units
  • Career Portfolio
  • Capstone Defense

Open the Grades 9–12 Curriculum Preview (PDF)

Explore the Grades 9–12 pathway on the drone site ↗

Career-Connected Extension • Grades 6–12

What the extension covers

Drone Career Explorer connects AI literacy to systems thinking, aerial data, responsible technology, mission planning, industry analysis, and workforce readiness. The curriculum is designed to be completed through cases, research, simulation, conceptual planning, and locally supervised experiences.

AI-generated illustration of drone learning

Inside the Drone Career Explorer Experience

Aerial imaging, mission planning, responsible use, and career-connected learning

This video introduces the kinds of learning experiences students may encounter through Drone Career Explorer, including aerial imaging, mission planning, responsible technology use, teamwork, and career exploration.

More about the pathway introduction

Drone Career Explorer helps students examine flight safety, mission planning, aerial imaging, data, and responsible technology choices through structured learning experiences.

Students connect those decisions to real-world roles and industries while documenting evidence in a career portfolio.

Hands-On Learning Experience

Drone Innovation in Action

Students plan, explore, and solve through hands-on drone learning

The pathway can include mission planning, aerial-image review, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving activities, with any equipment use determined and supervised locally.

More about Drone Innovation in Action

Students apply what they learn through mission planning, aerial-image review, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving using responsible drone technology.

Workforce Readiness

Drones, AI & Career Pathways

Workforce Readiness

Drones, AI & Workforce Readiness

Connecting emerging technology to industries and future careers

Students connect drone technology and artificial intelligence to construction, real estate, media, transportation, infrastructure, engineering, public service, and other future-focused career pathways.

About this career pathways experience

This experience helps students recognize how classroom learning can transfer into technical fields, creative industries, public-service roles, and emerging technology careers.

Drone Learning in Pictures

Drone learning, systems, and career connections

Scenes from career exploration, mission planning, systems learning, aerial data, and safety planning.

Career exploration board visual
Career exploration
Drone mission planning visual
Mission planning
Drone learning systems illustration
Systems learning
Drone mission control illustration
Mission control
Drone career pathways illustration
Career pathways
Drone aerial mapping illustration
Aerial mapping & data
Flight safety and mission planning illustration
Safety & planning

Real student portfolio pages from the Drone Career Explorer workbooks

What students build and document

Students connect drone learning to real-world applications through aerial mapping, mission planning, engineering, public service, and emerging career pathways.

Grades 6–8 portfolio evidence

Drone Ecosystem Map student portfolio page from the Grades 6–8 workbook

Drone Ecosystem Map

Students map technology, data, process, purpose, safeguards, and human decisions.

Responsible Use Decision Guide student portfolio page from the Grades 6–8 workbook

Responsible Use Decision Guide

Students weigh purpose, evidence, constraints, stakeholders, and responsible-use decisions.

Sensor-to-Decision Model student portfolio page from the Grades 6–8 workbook

Sensor-to-Decision Model

Students trace how sensor data becomes interpretation, verification, and human action.

Grades 9–12 portfolio evidence

Responsible-Use Decision Memo from the Grades 9–12 Drone Career Explorer workbook

Responsible-Use Decision Memo

High-school learners document evidence, safeguards, limits, and a defensible recommendation.

Aerial Evidence Brief from the Grades 9–12 Drone Career Explorer workbook

Aerial Evidence Brief

Students evaluate what aerial evidence supports, what it does not prove, and what requires verification.

Career Pathway Action Plan from the Grades 9–12 Drone Career Explorer workbook

Career Pathway Action Plan

Students connect evidence of learning to skills, career interests, and concrete next steps.

Bring Drone Career Explorer to your school: Schools and districts can request the full curriculum and educator materials, including the student portfolio, assessment and capstone resources, and implementation guidance. Program delivery, equipment use, pacing, and local permissions are planned with each participating organization. This page describes the program; it does not represent an active cohort or school partnership.

Keep exploring

Explore the rest of the pathway

AI DiscoverersElementary • Grades 3–5AI ExplorersMiddle School • Grades 6–8AI InnovatorsHigh School • Grades 9–12
Request a sample lessonBook a discovery callBack to the curriculum overview