"We introduced foci to put the fun back into learning and for students to enjoy learning. There's no assessment, no marking and it's something significantly different," Mr Liddle said.
Each foci module lasts six weeks and, with the school owning 30 drones, one foci gives students the chance to learn to fly drones and earn their drone driver's licence.
"Perhaps more importantly, [students] have started looking at what applications are there for the technology and there have been a number of success stories as some are starting to think about combining virtual reality and drone technology.
"The next step is to use the software to create virtual environments - we want them to be creators of the product. There is the potential, although it is still a long way off, of designing software to meet the needs of people in the business community."
As an example, he said there was the potential for tourists to visit Maketu and, via a virtual reality experience, witness the arrival of waka.
That would broaden the learning experience into the area of entrepreneurship, he said.
Leader of learning, sciences, Matthew Park said there was also the potential to apply the technology into other areas such as orcharding.
"By using thermal imaging cameras [on drones], we could identify when temperatures fall and trigger an alarm when they fall below a certain level," he said.
Te Puke EDG managing director Mark Boyle said it was exciting to see what was possible in the development of virtual and augmented reality.
"We've been working with [the high school] this year in developing virtual reality and augmented reality education in the school," he said.
There are various business projects that could result from being able to offer content and editing services.