Rules and Risks in Teaching New Technologies: Two Approaches to Engaging Drones in the Classroom

Engaging new technologies and innovations comes with certain levels of risk, especially in academic settings. The introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, as story-telling devices in mass media is pushing higher education to address the technology in classrooms. However, risk policies at the federal, state, and university level have not always kept up with use. Our session will present a study that analyzes the experiences of professors and students who are using drones in media courses, specifically with regard to university policies. The study draws on the experiences of more than two dozen universities currently using drones in communication courses as well as autoethnographies.

Outcomes: Identify at least one new technology you want to incorporate that may involve risks and rules at the university, local, state or federal level * Evaluate your learning environment and decide whether a proactively compliant or an "ask forgiveness" approach is preferable * Develop a strategy to incorporate new technology that identifies potential risks and how to approach those risks