Flight Toward Learning: Integrating the DRL Simulator as a Motivational and Educational Strategy in STEM Early Engineering Students
Academic Article in Scopus
This paper presents an educational innovation implemented at Tecnológico de Monterrey aimed at enhancing STEM motivation, engagement, and foundational engineering skills among high school and early engineering students. The intervention employed a progressive training sequence using the Drone Racing League (DRL) Simulator, transitioning from keyboard input to gamepad controllers and ultimately to professional-grade radio transmitters, culminating in real-flight practice with FPV drones. Two validated motivational instruments - the MUSIC® Model of Motivation Inventory and the MDI-EE (Motivational Diagnosis Instrument for Engineering Education) - were administered before and after the intervention. A pre-experimental one-group pre/post design was used due to institutional constraints that prevented the formation of a control group. Results showed significant increases across all motivational dimensions, including autonomy, perceived usefulness, interest, self-efficacy, and study predisposition. The revised version of this work also incorporates a structured review of related literature, clarification of the research gap, expanded sample and methodological justification, and theoretical grounding based on Self-Determination Theory and Flow Theory, along with explicit study limitations and directions for future research. Overall, the findings suggest that progressive simulator-based drone training is an effective, replicable, and scalable strategy for fostering STEM engagement and strengthening the connection between theoretical concepts and practical engineering experiences.
