Re-configuring an Engineering Drawing Course:  Mapping Goals and Methods to Leverage CADD Functionality

Roelof Harm deVries

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Conference: 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication Date: June 26, 2011
Start Date: June 26, 2011
End Date: June 29, 2011
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: ETD Design II: Mechanical Engineering Technology
Tagged Division: Engineering Technology
Page Count: 22
Page Numbers: 22.1212.1 - 22.1212.22
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--18632
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/18632
Download Count: 388

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Paper Authors

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Roelof Harm deVries University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown

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B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Lafayette College, 1981,
M.S,. Ag. Engineering, Cornell University, 1987,
P.E., Pennsylvania and Maryland,
25 years industry experience: machine design and engineering management.
Teaching since 2008.

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Abstract

Re-configuring an Engineering Drawing Course: Mapping Goals and Methods to Leverage CADD Functionality The availability and rapid evolution of Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)software plays a central role in shaping drawing classes in several ways. First, students must beable to gain competency in the methods extant in industry. Second, ever-more powerful CADDtools bring with them the possibility of new teaching methods. Finally, the rate of change intechnology requires an engineering (technology) program to continually refresh its curriculum inorder to best meet the needs of its students. This paper illustrates a procedure for re-configuring a first-year Engineering(Technology) drawing course in a way that connects instructional activities and exercises withclearly-defined goals. The procedure maps those goals from the old to the new lesson plans evenas methods are changed to leverage CADD functionality. The context of this illustration is a course that has traditionally been taught with anemphasis on manual (drawing board) over CADD work. The course and the approach to its reconfiguration are built on the foundationalpedagogical approach of learning by doing, as they are learning a skill, not just knowledge. Thebasic cycle of “Hear, See, Do, Receive Correction, Do Again” is implemented both on the boardand with CADD. The reconfiguration of the course was motivated by a desire to increase the students’competency on CADD, as well as increasing their exposure to a broad range of CADDfunctionality. This drove an increase in the amount of time the students are using CADD. Somegoals of the course cannot be mapped into the CADD environment. These include competencywith lettering, geometric constructions, use of drawing instruments, and descriptive geometry.Other goals can be met either on the board or on CADD. Examples include proper techniquesfor making a drawing, practicing orthographic projections, sections, and auxiliary views. In thereconfigured course, these are taught almost exclusively on CADD. The effectiveness of the reconfigured course will be assessed in several ways. First,students taking the course before and after reconfiguration will be given the same or similarexams. Any significant drop in scores will indicate that course goals are not being met. Second,students’ performance in competencies not previously covered will be assessed by exercises orexams.

Citation
Format

deVries, R. H. (2011, June), Re-configuring an Engineering Drawing Course: Mapping Goals and Methods to Leverage CADD Functionality Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--18632

TY - CPAPER
AB - Re-configuring an Engineering Drawing Course: Mapping Goals and Methods to Leverage CADD Functionality The availability and rapid evolution of Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)software plays a central role in shaping drawing classes in several ways. First, students must beable to gain competency in the methods extant in industry. Second, ever-more powerful CADDtools bring with them the possibility of new teaching methods. Finally, the rate of change intechnology requires an engineering (technology) program to continually refresh its curriculum inorder to best meet the needs of its students. This paper illustrates a procedure for re-configuring a first-year Engineering(Technology) drawing course in a way that connects instructional activities and exercises withclearly-defined goals. The procedure maps those goals from the old to the new lesson plans evenas methods are changed to leverage CADD functionality. The context of this illustration is a course that has traditionally been taught with anemphasis on manual (drawing board) over CADD work. The course and the approach to its reconfiguration are built on the foundationalpedagogical approach of learning by doing, as they are learning a skill, not just knowledge. Thebasic cycle of “Hear, See, Do, Receive Correction, Do Again” is implemented both on the boardand with CADD. The reconfiguration of the course was motivated by a desire to increase the students’competency on CADD, as well as increasing their exposure to a broad range of CADDfunctionality. This drove an increase in the amount of time the students are using CADD. Somegoals of the course cannot be mapped into the CADD environment. These include competencywith lettering, geometric constructions, use of drawing instruments, and descriptive geometry.Other goals can be met either on the board or on CADD. Examples include proper techniquesfor making a drawing, practicing orthographic projections, sections, and auxiliary views. In thereconfigured course, these are taught almost exclusively on CADD. The effectiveness of the reconfigured course will be assessed in several ways. First,students taking the course before and after reconfiguration will be given the same or similarexams. Any significant drop in scores will indicate that course goals are not being met. Second,students’ performance in competencies not previously covered will be assessed by exercises orexams.
AU - Roelof Harm deVries
CY - Vancouver, BC
DA - 2011/06/26
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Re-configuring an Engineering Drawing Course: Mapping Goals and Methods to Leverage CADD Functionality
UR - https://peer.asee.org/18632
DO - 10.18260/1-2--18632
ER -