Lessons off to a flying start

Narrogin Primary School students were introduced last Thursday to a prominent form of technology emerging across Australian industries — drones.

The South West Catchment Council were not only showing Year 5 and 6 students how to fly drones, but they also simulated how the technology would be used in industry.

Inside a small safety enclosure, trays of sand acted as the banks of Toolibin Lake. Students manoeuvred drones over the trays before deploying a small pea shooter attached to the technology into the sand.

SWCC chief executive Steve Ewing said the exercise was similar to how his organisation used drones to seed the banks of lakes and rivers.

“What drones are already capable and being used for is extraordinary, and that is continually expanding,” he said.

“Everything from the mineral sector to agriculture to gas and mining, are utilising this technology now.”

Mr Ewing said the technology had already extended the capabilities of the SWCC, from surveying vegetation and crops in previously inaccessible areas to better using man hours of staff.

He said it was important to have primary school-aged children exposed to the technology so they were comfortable with using it once they finished their schooling.

“I designed this program just so we could get them excited about by the mix of technology but also having a look at some real-life problems,” he said.

“Such as seeding vegetation and seeing things that fail.”