CAD training in engineering education

Abstract

CAD (computer-aided design) is presented as a tool to visually realize thoughts and designs and to perform engineering on them before they are actually built. By realizing CAD as a building, rather than a drawing, tool the authors present a theory of CAD training in the form of a novel 'instruct to construct' approach. It is based on the premise that the trainer should instruct the users to construct clear and accurate mental models of the CAD system. A generic CAD education or CAD semantics in engineering has been implemented along these lines.<>