If Only I Had Learned SolidWorks Back When I Taught Drafting in High School

Looking back, I can’t help but think about how much smoother things could’ve been if I’d learned SolidWorks while I was teaching drafting in high school. At the time, we were mostly focused on traditional drawing techniques and hand-drafted blueprints, which I’m proud to have passed down to my students. But, as technology continued to advance, I realized just how powerful CAD software like SolidWorks could’ve been in opening doors for students into the world of 3D modeling, design, and engineering.

If I had introduced SolidWorks earlier, we could’ve brought real-world applications right into the classroom. Students could've built fully parametric models and explored assemblies and simulations, taking their skills far beyond what we were able to achieve with manual drafting tools.

With SolidWorks, not only could we have improved our design and visualization techniques, but we could've also built a deeper understanding of the engineering principles behind the drawings. It's a tool that allows for creativity, precision, and efficiency that would've been incredible for the students. And who knows, maybe it would've sparked the next generation of engineers, designers, or even CAD specialists who could've changed the field.

That said, better late than never, right? I’m catching up now, but I do wish I had that head start back then. Any of you other educators or professionals ever have a similar experience?