Jason,
The instructor acts like a bridge between the student and the knowledge.
Some students understand this very well and cross the bridge and go
further, becoming very good at what they do, whatever discipline they are
involved in. Some others think the instructor has to carry them over his
shoulders in order to cross the bridge. Some others don't even want to
attempt anything at all. Therefore, I would suggest you to focus yourself
on being a good bridge, and not to worry too much about how your students
perform after the course.
Organize the contents of your courses very well, breaking down the whole
thing into short courses, very well separated. Do not try to show too much
in too little time. That eventually leads to confusion. Focus on tasks and
procedures, rather than on commands. Focus on consistency, clarity,
readability, and the importance of standards. Also, instruct your students
on how to get additional help, so they can expand their own knowledge by
searching in other resources.
During the course, try to have your students complete cycles. Even with a
small exercise, show the cycle made of phases such as starting up a
project, naming it, setting it up, doing the line work, adding annotations
and dimensions, saving it properly and printing it. The complexity varies
during the course, of course, but the cycle must be completed. This gives
you an opportunity to break down subjects into parts and expand the concept
of "CAD skills", which is not only drawing lines on the screen. I call this
a "vertical approach", as opposed to a "horizontal approach" where the
first steps are done in the first exercises and the final ones are left to
be done in the final exercises (or are never done at all).
Alfredo Medina
alfmedina@hotmail.com
Moderator
Jason Renteria wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> I am a part-time instructor for a community college and have 6 years of
> solid AutoCAD experience. I am by no means an expert, but I am qualified to
> teach an introductory course in AutoCAD.
>
> If you are responsible for hiring CAD operators, I would like to know what
> amount of CAD skill you expect from graduates either from a college or
> technical program. I don't know how you would rate CAD skill without work
> experience but let's try.
>
> If you are an AutoCAD instructor, I would like to know what is emphasized in
> the course that you teach? For example, is it basics covering commands
> primarily in 2D or a combination of 2D and 3D? What
> applications/disciplines of AutoCAD are emphasized to get the most of
> AutoCAD? For example, is it Architecture, Mechanical, Civil, or Structural.
> AutoCAD is such a powerful tool it is very difficult to teach/learn every
> aspect of the program and apply it in all of the possible fields of
> drafting. I, with 6 years of experience, still have a lot to learn.
>
> The institution I work for is interested in teaching Advanced AutoCAD
> skills. I think more 3D work will be done in the near future, and I feel as
> an instructor/employer the graduates should be educated as much as possible.
> I think this would make for better prospective employees. I am open to
> ideas and suggestions of what you think students these days should be
> learning. I understand different regions of the world will have different
> answers to this topic.
>
> --
> CAD Manager/Designer
> Part-time Drafting Instructor
> Jason Renteria
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