Technology Education

Preparing Students for a Technological World

Technology Education is an integrating discipline that provides students with an opportunity to study the human-made world and to develop technological literacy as part of their fundamental education. Through design, build and test activities, student model solutions to real world problems and develop an understanding of technology in the past, present and future. Technology Education is much more than just knowledge about computers and their application. Technology Education programs engage learners in critical thinking as they design and develop products, systems and environments to solve practical problems.

Technology Education is designed to teach students to understand, use and control technology. The curriculum covers the development of technology and its effect on people, the environment and society. Students learn how to adjust to change, to deal with forces that influence their future and to participate in controlling their destiny.

In Grades 9-12, Technology Education provides an in-depth foundation for career preparation or for entering a two or four-year college or university. Regardless of career goal, all students gain knowledge and an understanding leading to technology awareness and educational enrichment as well as occupational readiness. It helps prepare students for the school-to-career transition by developing work ethics and exposure to various career areas. The Technology Education areas also reinforce previously learned knowledge (science, math, etc.) using it to solve problems in technology. The students are involved in group projects that apply and reinforce teamwork, critical thinking and research skills.

With the growing importance of technology to our society, it is vital that students receive an education that emphasizes technological literacy. Technology Education, through its curriculum, presents a vision of what students should know and be able to do to be a technology literate person.

The computer has become the principal tool at the drafter’s workstation. The drafter, designer, architect or engineer can now create layouts and designs on a computer screen using commands of the computer program. Points are chosen with electronic pencils in the form of a mouse. Original drawings do not have to be copied with a blueprint machine. Instead, the CAD drafter can send the drawing data to a plotter for an inked original or to a printer for a quick check print. The final drawing no longer has to be stored in large flat files or on rolls. Rather, it is saved on floppy disk or hard drives.

Now, drafters possess a powerful new tool-the computer. It can enable you to create your own drawings commands. This is an aspect of CAD that is often overlooked and the one that is very important. In this class, you will be learning a more advanced set of tools-using the computer and AutoCAD. The nature of AutoCAD allows you to alter the basic program into something highly specialized and efficient. Along the way, you must pick up many new skills and ways of thinking. This may enable you to become even more productive. Your skills as a drafter and CAD-user prepare you to move into fields of expertise such as design, architecture, engineering software design, and computer programming.

New Milford High School’s mission statement says that New Milford High School is dedicated to:

  • Achieving standards of academic excellence in all disciplines;
  • Building partnerships with family and community;
  • Creating a nurturing, respectful, and safe environment and
  • Developing social and civic responsibility.

Technology Education classrooms at New Milford High School supports these goals by expecting students, with the support of staff and family, to strive to do their best academically and to behave in an appropriate and respectful manner.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an introductory course that provides students with experience in the use of the AutoCAD computer software program. The project-oriented approach used in this course provides a sequence of carefully designed projects which move from a simple title block to complicated 2D CAD drawings in a series of easily mastered steps. The student spends time studying the communication of ideas through orthographic and pictorial drawings, geometric construction, sections and blueprints.

TEXTBOOK: - Shumaker, Terence, Madsen, David, AutoCAD and its

Applications - Basic, Goodheart-Willcox Company, Tinley Park,

Illinois, 2001.

Beyond the Textbook

CIVIC and SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS

CIVIC EXPECTATIONS

Basic AutoCAD students will:

  • be ambassadors of the school and community;
  • be responsible citizens;
  • value and respect the environment and
  • know their rights and responsibilities.

SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS

Basic AutoCAD students will:

  • use positive interpersonal skills;
  • develop positive relationships;
  • be open minded and compassionate;
  • treat staff, teachers, other students, and themselves with respect;
  • demonstrate empathy with people of different abilities, backgrounds, and cultures;
  • accept and apply constructive criticism and
  • demonstrate responsibility for his or her own actions, behaviors, and academic success.

EXPECTATIONS for STUDENT LEARNING

BASIC AutoCAD

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

  1. To assist students in developing insight and understanding of the

CAD software;

  1. to develop basic computer drafting techniques;
  1. to identify between orthographic and section views and be able to compare them;
  1. to use dimensioning techniques;
  1. to plot drawings to finish work; and
  1. to use the computer aided drafting commands to control coordinates; scale, entity properties, view displays and symbols.

COURSE GRADING

This is a one-semester course (half year) for .5 credits. There are two marking periods. Each marking period will comprise 40% of the final grade. A final exam will account for the remaining 20% of the final grade.

BASIC AutoCAD

COURSE OUTLINE

(ONE SEMESTER – ½ CREDIT)

1)ORIENTATION

  1. Classroom organization
  2. Safety (color code drill procedures)
  3. Course content explained
  4. Requirements
  5. Drafting room atmosphere
  6. Equipment
  7. Grading
  8. Desk, computer assignments
  9. New school policies

2)GETTING STARTED

  1. Learn How to Start and Close AutoCAD
  2. Using the Start Button
  3. Using a Shortcut
  1. Introduce the AutoCAD Interface
  2. Command Line
  3. AutoCAD Text Window
  4. Pulldown Menus
  5. Toolbars Buttons
  6. Status Bar
  7. Multiple Document Interface
  8. Model and Layout Tabs
  1. Learn How to Communicate With AutoCAD
  2. Responding To Prompts
  3. Right-click Shortcut Menus
  1. Learn How to Get Out of Trouble
  2. Canceling Commands
  3. Using UNDO and REDO
  4. Getting Help for Specific Commands
  5. Searching for Help on Specific Topics
  6. Managing Drawing Files in Folders
  1. Experience AutoCAD in a Quick Tour Exercise

3)DISPLAY COMMANDS

  1. Learn About Drawing Scale in AutoCAD

a. Drawing Scale and View Magnification

  1. Learn Basic ZOOM Features

a. ZOOM Window

  1. ZOOM Previous
  2. ZOOM Extends
  3. ZOOM Scale
  1. Learn How to PAN
  1. Learn How to Use Real-Time PAN and ZOOM
  1. Learn How to Save and Restore Views

4)DRAWING SETUP

  1. Introduce Drawing Scale Concepts
  2. Introduction to Page Setup
  3. Plotting from the Model Tab
  4. Plotting from a Layout
  1. Introduce System Variables and Units
  2. English vs Metric Default Settings
  3. Setting Up Drawing Units
  4. OPTIONS and Profiles
  5. Dimension Variables and Styles
  6. Drafting Settings Variables
  7. Text Styles and Fonts
  8. Layer Definitions
  1. Learn How to Create New Drawings

Start From Scratch

  1. From A Template
  2. Use A Wizard

5)COORDINATES AND BASIC DRAFTING TOOLS

  1. Learn How to Respond to Prompts for Points
  2. Absolute Coordinates
  3. Relative Coordinates
  4. Polar Coordinates
  5. Direct Distance Coordinates
  6. Inquiry Tools for Points
  7. User and World Coordinate Systems
  1. Learn How to Use Basic Drafting Tools
  2. Object Snap Overrides
  3. Running Object Snaps
  4. Using the POLAR Tool
  5. Setting SNAP and GRID

6)CREATING 2D GEOMETRY

  1. Learn More About Creating LINES
  2. Backing Up after Supplying the Wrong Endpoint
  3. Using the Continue Feature
  4. Closing a Polygon

2. Learn How to Create ARCs and CIRCLEs

  1. Review Pull-down Menu and Options for CIRCLEs
  2. Review Pull-down Menu Options for ARCs

3. Learn How to Create and Edit POLYLINES

  1. Learn What POLYLINES are and When to Use Them
  2. DONUTS
  3. POLYGONS
  4. Converting LINES and ARCS to POLYGONS

4. Learn How to Create POINTS and Select Point Styles

  1. Learn What POINTS Are and When To Use Them
  2. Changing Point Styles
  3. Using POINTS in Measure and Divide

5. Learn About Advanced 2D Objects

  1. ELLIPSES
  2. SPLINES

7)EDITING 2D GEOMETRY

  1. Learn Basic Tools To Select Multiple Objects
  2. Window
  3. Crossing
  1. Learn Basic Edit Techniques
  2. ERASE
  3. MOVE
  4. COPY
  5. ROTATE
  6. SCALE
  7. Shortcuts
  8. Introduce GRIPS

8)MANAGING OBJECT PROPERTIES

  1. Introduce the Use of Layers
  2. What are Layers
  3. Why Use Layers
  1. Learn How to Manage Object Properties (BY LAYER)
  2. COLOR
  3. LINETYPE
  4. LINEWEIGHT
  5. Plot Styles
  1. Learn How to Use the Object Property Toolbar
  2. Setting the Current Layer
  3. Changing Layer Settings
  4. Overriding Properties Set BY LAYER
  1. Setting Linetype Scale
  2. Plotting from the Model Tab
  3. Plotting from a Layout Tab
  1. Introduce the Object Property Manager
  2. Manipulating the Object Property Manager
  3. Changing Properties of Selected Objects

9)CAD CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

  1. Learn Basic AutoCAD Commands for 2D Construction
  2. OFFSET
  3. TRIM
  4. EXTEND
  5. FILLET
  6. CHAMFER
  7. ARRAY
  8. MIRROR
  9. STRETCH
  1. Learn Basic Construction Techniques
  2. Using Construction Lines
  3. Creating Orthographic Views