CompuServe Messages

I've been teaching Autocad in the high schools since Ver. 2.02A 1983. I started in the Boston area and was there for 18 years before being laid off. My whole dept. got the ax (1989) to balance the budget that year. I am now in northern Vermont (know of any warmer places the winters are toooooooo long here!!!) teaching Autocad rel.12 and one computer animation class. I also teach adults nights and train privately to area companies.Teaching is great!! the administrators and state Ed dept. though is another matter. They have no idea what kind of time is needed to maintain a C.A.D. lab. And if they happen to teach in Vermont they can plan on many hours of paper chasing to justify someone in the state dept who has lost touch with being in the classroom. Just an example my dept head has never taught he was a professional student for 40 years in Pennsylvania, before moveing to Vermont into an administrative position. He lacks people skills but he is behind the program. As for teaching problems I can only say know your software get frequent training. The AutoCAD program partners is an excellent way to see what other teacher are doing. You might try Autodesk Learning Systems Group Wayne Hodgins is the manager ask for "The Pedagogical Guide" and the "Instructor Development Guide" both will go into depth on all your questions. I think for myself the biggest problem I face not counting the fore mentioned is the fact that I have to teach basic drafting skills; not useing drafting equipment but how the solving of multiview projection, sectioning, auxiliary view etc. the same time as the student are learning the software. What I am doing at the present time and would be interested in what others are doing is this. I rewrote the course of study as follows CAD I half year (I have over 100 students signed up but only 12 computers) I teach 4-6 classes in CAD I during the year. They only get 2D and how to use the software Many could pass the AutoCAD Certification Exam after this course. Their homework is in basic blueprint reading. CAD II full year this year I have 2 classes.The first half of the year is 2D design the sectioning auxiliary view etc. using the sofware. The second half of the year is 3D then onto AME. Their final projects will be rendered and animated. These are mechanical design projects not architectural in nature. CAD III (one class) deals with Architecture both rel 12 and ASG Architectural software will be used. Final projects to include walk through and fly-by animations. Cad IV is title Advanced Topics of CAD (one class this year) this class deals with creating custom menus for the area of engineering of their choice.