We asked several SIA Sim flight simulator recipients how they plan to use the free SIA Sim flight simulator at their schools. Here’s what they said…
Our robotics classes focus on flight during the last 9 weeks of the school year. We will utilize the flight simulator as part of our robotics class as we introduce flight. I also teach Quest for Success and we will utilize it to discuss careers in aviation.
Russell White
Robotics Teacher
Good Hope Middle School, West Monroe, LA
65 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Robotics 1 and 2, Quest for Success
Overall, flight simulators offer a cost-effective, safe, and versatile tool for teaching aviation concepts and practical skills, making them an invaluable part of any high school aviation program. Simulators can spark interest in careers like piloting, air traffic control, or aviation engineering by providing a realistic experience of what those jobs entail.
Andrew Scott
Tech Ed Teacher
LaCrosse Logan High School, LaCrosse, Wisconsin
40 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Launching into Aviation
Exposing students to a flight simulator in a library setting provides an equitable opportunity for all students within the building to explore the world of aviation. Libraries help support STEM learning in the area of physics and engineering. Exposing students to a flight simulator allows students to explore principles of aerodynamics, flight mechanics, and physics. Students have an opportunity to experiment with different aircrafts and weather conditions to see how those factors affect flight. Likewise, allowing students an opportunity to use the simulator software and understand the technical aspects of the platform, could spark interest in programming or game design. In addition, we are an AVID school and the flight simulator allows students an opportunity to explore the world of aviation and learn about the various career opportunities within aviation. Also, we can then allow students an opportunity to connect with those who work in the world of aviation whether that is a pilot, airplane mechanic, unmanned aircraft pilot or engineer to name a few. Lastly, the library houses numerous books on airplanes and careers in the aviation world. Having a display of those resources next to the flight simulator will complement having this tool within our space. The students at Milton Middle School are excited to be given this opportunity to explore a profession that many would not have been exposed to without this experience.
Christina Nording
Library Media Tech Specialist & District Library Coordinator
Milton Middle School, Milton, WI
500 students annually will be able to use the simulator
Class name: Part of MMS library programming & AVID Students
Port Washington High School is excited about offering students an opportunity to learn about avaition in the high school. This is something completely new and offers another pathway for students to pursue after high school. We appreciate the opportunity SIA Foundation has provided us and we are excited learning about avaition.
Ryan Volke
Technology Education Teacher
Port Washington High School, Port Washington,WI
100 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Pre-Enginneering, I also plan to start an after school club for interested students
Mandalay Middle School students are excited to have a SIASim flight simulator for their Exploration of Aviation classes. The simulator will support and deepen student understanding of their introduction to aviation. As students explore the concepts and principles of aviation and pilot training, airplane structure, basic aerodynamics, flight environment, airports, aviation weather, and navigation, the SIASim flight simulator will add a level of excitement and hands on experiences!
Pamela Laidley
Aviation and Science Teacher
Mandalay Middle School, Westminster, CO
75 plus students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Exploration of Aviation I and Exploration of Aviation II
When I first started teaching my Aerospace Engineering class we used XPlane as a simulator. That has since been discontinued and we are without a simulator. Your simulator would be an excellent replacement for my students.
Rob Eastman
Aerospace Engineering Teacher
Janesville Craig High School, Janesville, WI
25 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Aerospace Engineering
We would us the SIASim flight simulator to enhance our Launching into Aviation course that we offer. With the addition of the flight simulator we hope to inspire students to pursue a path in aviation by offering them a realistic feel of flying all from our Classroom!
Benjamin Wendland
Technology Education Teacher
LaCrosse Central High School,LaCrosse, WI
12 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Launching Into Aviation
Birchwood STEAM and Career Academy is a new 6-12 charter school within the Birchwood School District. Birchwood is a small, rural school district nestled in the woods of northern Wisconsin. BSCA’s curriculum emphasizes STEAM and career learning experiences to prepare students for their future. The flight simulator from SAI will help prepare our students for future aviation careers and hopefully work towards creating an aviation club.
Mike Zemaitis
Director and lead teacher of Birchwood STEAM and Career Academy
Birchwood STEAM and Career Academy, Birchwood, WI
23 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: HS PBL: STEAM, 7th Grade STEAM, 8th Grade STEAM
I plan on using it for the first year to help teach bernoulli’s principle in my physics class and teach them some of the material that goes with communicating when flying. In the next couple of years, I plan on using it to teach in my physics class and aviation class. The aviation class will use it the most and will use it to gain basic knoweldge to heop them pass the ground school certification.
Brett Newberg
High School Teacher
Valders School District, Valders, WI
20 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Physics
This simulator will be paired with our aviation chapter that will pair with drones.
Dee Leible
Middle School Teacher
Christ Community Lutheran School, Kirkwood, MO
75 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Fifth and Seventh Grade Math (Drone Applications)
Museum visitors will be allowed guided instructional time on the simulator on a first come, first served basis. Formal classwork will be developed over the coming months for regular classroom use.
Patrick Weeden
Executive Director
Kelch Museum, Brodhead, WI
300 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: General Aviation Education
The simulator will be used during our biweekly meetings for both educational and recreational purposes. We’ll offer lessons on aviation principles, such as aircraft control, navigation, and weather impact on flights, all while giving members hands-on experience in a simulated cockpit. Beyond learning, the simulator provides a fun way for students to explore aviation in a realistic setting, fostering a sense of excitement for the field.
Our goal is to engage students of all grades, especially the younger ones, and introduce them to the wide range of career opportunities in aviation. At Markville, much of the focus tends to be on math, engineering, and health sciences. With the flight simulator, we hope to broaden students’ horizons and inspire a new generation of pilots, aerospace engineers, and aviation enthusiasts.”
Graham Langdale
Teacher
York Region District School Board,Markham, Ontario, CANADA
50 plus students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: MSS Aviation Club
This simulator will be used to supplement the curriculum in the Aerospace Engineering class. Currently, students are learning about the physics of flight and what it takes for an aircraft to be able to fly. Students will also be exploring flight controls, route mapping and aircraft communication.
Nano Espenes
Technology & Engineering Teacher
Memorial High School,Madison, WI
25 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Aerospace Engineering
My students will utilize the flight simulator in our drone unit. This is an opportunity to give my students life experiences that some may never get to experience outside of my classroom.
Kelli Covington
Robotics Instructor, 8th Grade Math Teacher
Woodlawn Junior High, West Monroe, LA
13 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Stem/Robotics
As a veteran teacher in robotics, this year the students will be working with drones as well. This flight simulator will be a great experience for introducing students to the real life use of drones. As this is such a growing field, we try our best to give students as many different STEM related experiences as possible. This would be an awesome method for incorporating hands-on learning into a STEM classroom.
Ben Hobson
Stem/Robotics Teacher
Sterlington Middle School, Monroe, LA
60 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Robotics/STEM
South Texas ISD Science Academy is excited to announce the integration of the SIA Sim flight simulator into its aviation program of study curriculum. This cutting-edge technology will enhance students’ learning experiences in aviation and aerospace science.
The SIA Sim flight simulator provides a realistic flying experience, allowing students to explore the principles of flight, navigation, and aircraft systems in a safe environment. By engaging with this advanced tool, students will develop critical skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and technical understanding.
The incorporation of the simulator aligns with the Academy’s commitment to STEM education, providing students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for future careers in aviation and related fields. Additionally, the program aims to inspire students’ interest in science and technology, fostering the next generation of innovators.
Through this initiative, South Texas ISD Science Academy reinforces its vision to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become dynamic innovators who advance the frontiers of our rapidly evolving societies.
Luis Gasca and Michael Trevino
Career & Technical Education Teachers for aviation courses
South Texas ISD Science Academy, Mercedes, TX
75 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Introduction to Aerospace Aviation & Aerospace Engineering
At Kimberly High School students will use the flight simulator to take their piloting skills to a whole new level. With a more realistic simulator such as this students can get an idea of what being a pilot looks like. Hopefully this will be the spark that a student needs to pursue this type of career after school.
Kevin Janota
Teacher
Kimberly High School, Kimberly, WI
80 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Airplanes and Drones
Kansas Public Schools has been on a journey to embed the STEM +A Aviation and Aerospace project based learning into our after school learning environment as well as our daily ‘Comet Time’ Career Fields opportunities for students ages 12-18 grades 5th-12th . The SIASim flight simulator partnership will allow our students the opportunity to experience first-hand aviation applications for flying, hands on specific concepts related to flight through their in class scaffolding activities and lessons that incorporate challenging curriculum concepts of Bernoulli’s Principles, Newton’s Laws of Motion, gravity, and principles of flight to help develop skillsets for future career clusters in aviation and aerospace career pathway, and scheduled simulator exploration. KPS will also utilize partnerships with the EAA Young Eagles Program located 1 ½ hrs. away to the Gundy Airport (Owasso, OK) to accomplish individual student goals to experience flight. KPS has a high Native American population that is currently under represented in the aviation field as a profession. This is due to the lack of access and exposure to the career pathways in our rural area. The SIASIM flight simulator will open doors for our Native American students both academically and socially to empower them to reach beyond what our rural community has to currently offer. KPS’ Straight UP- Aim HIGH initiative/Program overall reaching goal is to provided and inspire Native American youth to make a future positive contribution to the aviation and aerospace industry.
Tammie Bowman / Mark Sherrell
Teachers
Kansas Public Schools, Kansas, OK
50 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Straight UP -Aim HIGH
We typically start out with all the basics. We kind of give them the flight skills and then the STEM skills. Then we can realistically incorporate that with what they want to do. If they want to fly, we give them that and then sneak in the other stuff. The simulator is great. I’ve been to Janesville and the layout is perfect and it’s super accurate for the geographical features, the buildings, down to the signs on the roadway.
Some Janesville students have gone on to the U.S. Air Force. Some have pursued aviation-related careers.
Andy Udell
STEM Teacher
Janesville Craig High School, Janesville, WI
50 students annually will use the SIA Sim
Class name: Aerospace Engineering