Instructor: Janet Ochs & Christopher Badurek
Course/Department: Cortland/Computer Applications Program & Geography
Institution: SUNY Cortland
Subject: Computer Science & Geography
Description
Cortland STEM Professors Engage Students in Drone Startup Pitch Contest Over the 2020 fall semester, Chris Badurek, Associate Professor Geography, and Janet Ochs, Coordinator of the Computer Applications Program (CAP), worked together to implement a drone startup pitch contest for students. Students from Geographic Information Systems and GPS Technology courses collaborated with two CAP 104 Computers & Society classes through virtual class sessions and collaboration times to develop business startup ideas to improve society and solve problems. Students operated in teams, conducted research, accomplished learning outcomes, and submitted proposals based on the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps STEM entrepreneurship education model. The proposals were presented to a panel of alumni judges and the most innovative or well-researched ideas were recognized. Startup ideas included ventures to decrease plastic in rivers, improve wildlife tracking, increase STEM education in schools, expand mapping accuracy for emergency response or delivery drivers, and fight wildfires in the western United States.
Recommended Number of Students: Has been used with ~20-25 students
Time Requirements (Approximate): Can be completed in a semester time period
