SKC & OPI Photonics, Lab Safety, and Drone Training

Thanks to the support of our funding partners, educators recently participated in a two-day professional learning experience focused on photonics, laboratory safety, career-connected learning, and drone-based STEM instruction.

The experience brought together educators with industry and higher education leaders, including a panel featuring: 

- Photonics student Dylan Maxwell

- Professor Dr. Nate Field from Montana State University's Optical Metrology Lab

- Headwaters Tech Hub Operations Manager Courtney McKee

Panel discussions helped educators better understand emerging opportunities within Montana's growing photonics ecosystem and the skills learners will need for future careers.

Participants also engaged in training on photonics and laboratory safety before taking part in hands-on visits to several Montana State University research facilities. **Educators rotated through the Montana Microfabrication Facility with Dr. Andrew Lingley, the Levitated Optomechanics Lab with Dr. Brian D’Urso, and the Optical Remote Sensor Lab with Dr. Riley Logan.** These experiences provided direct exposure to cutting-edge research and helped educators make connections between classroom instruction and real-world applications of photonics technologies.

The second day focused on broadening participation in STEM through Take Flight, a drone-based STEM curriculum, with sessions on supporting non-traditional learners in STEM, manual drone flight, and introductory drone coding. Educators experienced hands-on activities that demonstrated how coding, engineering, and photonics concepts can be made accessible and engaging for middle and high school learners.

Initial feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. All responding educators indicated they would recommend the training to others, and ratings across the training components were consistently high. Participants reported leaving with concrete plans to implement photonics concepts, update safety practices, integrate drone activities, and apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies in their classrooms.

Several educators shared that the experience shifted their perceptions of photonics. 

- One participant noted that they previously viewed photonics as "magic" but now see it as something they can teach in practice. 

- Another reported that they had not considered photonics relevant to their program but now recognize it as an emerging industry with career opportunities for students. 

- Others highlighted increased confidence with coding and drone instruction, noting that these technologies felt more accessible than they had previously imagined.

Additional analysis, educator implementation stories, and longer-term outcomes will be shared in the coming months as participants begin bringing photonics, drones, and career-connected STEM learning into their classrooms.