AutoCAD is a computer aided design and drafting software developed by Autodesk Inc. The latter was founded in 1982 by John Walker. Today, a three-year term AutoCAD 2021 subscription costs around $3,970.00 yet, it is widely used in industries all across the world, by architects, engineers, designers, project managers, and many other professionals. The latest version available for Mac versions is AutoCAD 2021. (https://www.scan2cad.com/tips/autocad-brief-history/)
AutoCAD was initially created for mechanical engineers, but it quickly encompassed a range of other fields. Today it is the construction industry that makes the most use of AutoCAD and as such there is a whole Building Suite and specialty software that comprises of Revit (BIM software), AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Civil 3D, InfraWorks, Navisworks Manage, 3ds Max, ReCap Pro, Advance Steel, Insight and Structural Bridge Design.
While Autodesk is having a huge impact in the industry, it has an even larger impact on careers. AutoCAD skills have become very important and necessary for many jobs. Whether it is for drafting or engineering, many employers and industrialists look for qualified technicians and engineers that possess the necessary CAD competencies. In fact, some jobs even contain AutoCAD in their title.
Basically, two approaches are used by Trainers to teach AutoCAD and these are based on the Trainer’s level of education and own development i.e. Some Trainers are either technicians, architects or engineers having worked with AutoCAD for several years while others are IT trainers who have learnt AutoCAD during their degree/diploma course.
Both use different methods; engineering technicians tend to teach by developing projects and competencies based on exercises and samples drawings. IT trainers tend to teach AutoCAD by going through functions as per the user interface. Both methods are used without any real study and delivered on a piece meal basis. On the other hand, as we know, education or rather the dispense of education is very different, it involves using the most suitable approach with reference to the target population and its requirements. There is also a gap between a degree holder and a diploma holder as the former tend to be more reflective and are better at developing strategies and methodologies to resolve problems in AutoCAD and teaching as well. So sensible teaching of AutoCAD requires strong qualifications, involve years of experience as well as good modern pedagogical skills and is usually best dispensed by Trainers having a thorough background in IT as well as technical qualifications. Altogether, AutoCAD is a vector based graphic software functioning in a digital system hence the user must master some IT skills to get the most of the software and secondly, a CAD draughtsman must be able to set up a computer system in his office for his technical purposes, set up communication systems also and do some basic troubleshooting to increase his office’s efficiency and reduce maintenance costs (factors which are very pertinent for an employer). At its root, for the user, AutoCAD is strongly tied to its user interface, decent Trainers have knowledge of User Interface design and can point out the similarities between AutoCAD interface and other modern UI interfaces, such that students recognize functions and are able to use the gained knowledge in other software as well or vice-versa. So, one good advice to learn AutoCAD or any CAD software: