Creative Futures Innovation Toolkit

We talk a lot about teamwork and communication in business education, but rarely do we give students a meaningful way to feel the complexity of these dynamics. This post introduces a new PrototypeED resource designed to do just that – using drones.

🛰️ Why Drones? Why Now?

This one-pager offers a low-tech, high-impact lesson using small indoor drones to simulate organisational communication structures. It invites students to explore how information flows (or doesn’t) through hierarchy – and what that means for decision-making and leadership.

The activity works well in business, leadership or operations modules and is easy to run with minimal kit: a few drones, some cones or tape, and clear roles.

🛠️ What’s in the One-Pager?

At the heart of the resource is a Big Question:
How does the flow of communication impact decision-making and effectiveness within an organisation?

Students are split into teams of 9–10 and take on one of three roles:

• Directors – design the flight path
• Middle Managers – act as the only channel of communication
• Operatives – fly the drones, relying entirely on instructions passed down

Each group follows a six-step sequence:

1. Introduction and Roles – setting the scene and boundaries
2. Planning Phase – directors plan the path and cascade instructions
3. Execution – operatives fly drones under communication constraints
4. External Factor – a sudden change forces teams to adapt
5. Debrief – groups reflect on what worked, what broke down
6. Reflection – links to leadership theory and organisational behaviour

🧠 Why It Matters

This activity makes communication barriers tangible. Students experience the frustrations of unclear chains of command and the power of strong middle leadership. It naturally surfaces key themes: trust, delegation, adaptability, and feedback loops.

And crucially – it’s fun. It energises the room, reduces screen dependency, and builds shared experience that sticks.

📄 Download the One-Pager