Fusion 360 API Training
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I'm considering developing a Fusion 360 API training course and could use everyone's input about what you would prefer.
I've written all of the current user manual and reference manual material that is available online. I also developed all of the original Inventor API training material and used it to teach a lot of classes. In both cases, there was always been more I wanted to do but didn't have time. Now that I'm working on my own I can prioritize things differently and things have a changed a lot since those original Inventor classes so there are now new options available for teaching. Here are some things I'm considering.
- Video instruction. This would be many short video lessons along with exercises and tests. I'm currently investigating the Udemy platform for this but would be interested in opinions about Udemy or other similar services you may have used.
The advantage of video instruction is that it's quicker to get to market and I could have classes available sooner than with other teaching methods. Video instruction will also allow me to more easily break up the class into modules so that I could release them individually over time. For example, there can separate classes such as "Introduction to the Fusion 360 API", "Part Modeling", "Assembly Modeling", 'Add-Ins and Commands", etc. By breaking up the material into smaller classes I can start releasing it sooner and by modularizing the topics it benefits students by allowing them to only choose the sections they need.
For me, the big disadvantage of video instruction is that it can be difficult to use as a reference. It can be good to learn concepts but it's hard to go back to when there are small details you need a refresher on. And for programming, I know I continuously go back to my reference material to look up specific syntax or workflows. - Book. An alternative to video instruction is a book. A book is difficult to beat when used for reference. A good book has a good index and it's easy to mark pages of interest to make it easier to reference in the future.
A big disadvantage of a book is that it takes longer to develop and would be harder to justify breaking up into a series of books to allow portions of it to be available sooner. With books, there is also the option of an eBook versus a printed book. Personally, I have a strong preference for printed books and developing the material for either takes the same amount of time. - In-Person Training. Classroom training is what I did for the original Inventor API classes but I think with the wide use of video conferencing "in-person" has a much broader definition now. A newer training technique of the last few years is the "boot camp" style of training classes. These are usually several days long where everyone is together at an off-site location and you spend approx. 12 hours per day going through the material. I've attended one of these classes and found it both enjoyable and also very rewarding. You learn a lot in a short amount of time. I also had the class material to use as a reference after the class. But this type of training is also relatively expensive and requires enough interest to fill a class to make it worthwhile for the instructor. With the video or book training, the cost is reasonable and you can go at your own pace.
What type of training would you like to see? And what topics are the most important to you that you like to see covered?
Brian Ekins
Inventor and Fusion 360 API Expert
Website/Blog: https://EkinsSolutions.com