Midlands Science is a not-for-profit organization that works to promote STEM education in the Midlands region of Ireland. It receives public and private funding and partners with schools, universities and other organizations to grow exposure to STEM subjects. At an event hosted by Midlands Science, a Business Development Manager from iConnect gave a coding workshop to Transition Year students at Athlone Community College using Parrot's Rolling Spider mini-drone. The workshop introduced coding and taught students how to program the drone to fly using smartphone applications.

1. C O D I N G W O R K S H O P
A T H L O N E C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

2. MIDLANDS SCIENCE
Midlands Science is a not-for-profit development
company which works to create greater interest in
STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths]
education and skills among students, teachers and
members of the public in the Midlands [Laois, Offaly,
Longford and Westmeath].
It is a not for profit company and it is funded by a
mixture of public and private funding. The objective is
to grow the exposure and teaching of STEM subjects
in schools through relationships with Science
Foundation Ireland, Athlone Institute of Technology
and a number of partners, thereby contributing to the
growth of the midlands region through education.
Photo Credits: Midlands Science

3. Reaching 13,000 people
directly per annum their work
has been independently and
positively evaluated and
found to be impactful,
creative and innovative. They
make a particular effort in all
projects to engage with those
from lower socio-economic
backgrounds, as they are the
least likely to engage with
STEM outreach.
STEM OUTREACH
Photo Credit: Midlands Science

4. is the process of managing the
entire lifecycle of a product
from inception, through
engineering design and
manufacture, to service and
disposal of manufactured
products.
As part of my role as Business Development
Manager at iConnect I delivered a Coding
Workshop for Transition Year students at
Athlone Community College.
STUDENTS
Photo: Providing guidance on how to program the Rolling Spider Mini-Drone

5. The objective of this workshop was to
introduce coding to students using...
The Rolling Spider Mini-Drone
Photo: Students successfully flying the Rolling Spider Mini-Drone

6. T h e P a r r o t R o l l i n g S p i d e r m i n i d r o n e i s a n u l t r a - c o m p a c t ,
p a l m - s i z e d q u a d c o p t e r c o n t r o l l e d b y s m a r t p h o n e . T h i s i s a
h i g h l y e n g a g i n g & f u n w a y t o t e a c h s t u d e n t s c o d i n g i n a
v i s u a l w a y .
P h o t o C r e d i t h t t p : / / i 0 . w p . c o m / w w w . i p h o n e - b l o g . c h / w p - c o n t e n t / u p l o a d s / 2 0 1 6 / 0 9 / s w i f t - p l a y - 2 . p n g

7. Taking Students through the coding commands for flying

8. Focus is high in Flight School

9. TESTING
LANDING
SKILLS

10. Flight School dismissed. Everyone earned their wings

11. To learn more
visit:
linkedin.com/in/lucy-payne