CompuServe Messages

Pat: I can't say it's the best method, but what we've been doing the past two years is to have a first-term freshman class called "Technical Drawing/CAD Level I". In this class the students spend the first 4 weeks doing "traditional" had drafting, but we just stress overall methods, like three views, isometrics, with a little bit on lettering and linework. Then they go into AutoCAD and get absorbed in the CAD system (or in some cases, totally lost). I really only stress they understand how a CAD system differs from paper drafting, and how the concepts work. Assuming they make it through this class, they then take "CAD Level II". This class really gets into the nuts and bolts of the AutoCAD program, and we cover all the way up through 3D and AME. I use Terry Shoemaker's book (sorry, Terry W.). I tried AutoShade last year, with limited success (OK, so it was a flop). But we'll have some real horsepower on the desktop this year, so I may jump into 3DS for a quick exercise or two. I'm hoping to get one or two kids excited enough to want to really do some neat stuff with it. Hope this is helpful… -KLF BTW, your buddy Guy Petty has been in Costa Rica since August on sabbatical (the lucky dog). We haven't heard from him since he left here. Hope he made it!