Overview
In this online and onsite AutoCAD course, we use CAD to draft a floor plan, multi-scale enlarged plans, roof plan and building elevations for a more complicated one-story residence. We develop a titleblock from scratch, including all of the associated file components. This project will be continued in CAD 302, Construction Documents 2.
CAD 301 is the first in a two-part series where we develop a complete set of construction documents for a residential project. This online AutoCAD class is designed to follow CAD 101 and 201. Knowledge and confidence in the application of 2D computer documentation tools will be gained through hands-on training exercises and instructor presentations. Terrific real-world, project-based learning. You will learn important, relevant & practical CAD workflow skills in this online AutoCAD course.
Your instructor is an Autodesk Certified Instructor and also an experienced working professional who uses AutoCAD on a daily basis, preparing construction documents for commercial, educational and residential projects.
VDCI encourages a strong online engagement between you, your instructor and your classmates. You will participate in group discussion forums, connect with your instructor and message your classmates. You are also invited to join us in the VDCI Student Lounge, where our instructors, staff, current students and alumni share information and help one another.
In this AutoCAD course, we also develop a titleblock from scratch, including all the associated file components. In this online AutoCAD class, you will learn about important AutoCAD commands, menuing systems and project workflow. Real-world, project-based learning. Strong Instructor engagement.
The course covers two-dimensional (2D) drawing commands and drafting techniques for developing construction documents including dimensioning, layout environments, layering systems and plotting.
The AutoCAD Construction Documents 1 course materials provided are identical in both our onsite and online training environments. The online courses begin every three weeks. The onsite courses are offered quarterly at our school campus in Point Loma.
What Is CAD (Computer-Aided Design)? and What Is AutoCAD?
Learning Objectives
- Create titleblock and titleblock/drawing label components for a professional office to facilitate development of deliverable sheet files.
- Create floor plan, enlarged plan, roof plan and building elevation of a moderately complex residential project. Includes the development of floor plan, roof plan and elevation notes.
- Successfully integrate referenced files to create construction documents. Demonstrate layer and file management, use of model/layout environments and multi-scale drawing presentation.
- Apply intermediate-level skills to create sheet layout environments and plotting.
- Organize deliverable sheet set to conform to the National CAD Standards.
AutoDesk Certification Objectives
DRAW OBJECTS PROFESSIONALLY
- Draw lines and rectangles
- Draw Circles, Arcs, and Polygons
DRAW WITH ACCURACY
- Use object-snap tracking
- Use Coordinate Systems
MODIFY OBJECTS
- Move and copy objects
- Rotate and scale objects
- Create and use arrays
- Trim and extend objects
- Offset and mirror objects
- Use grip editing
- Fillet and chamfer objects
USE ADDITIONAL DRAWING TECHNIQUES
- Draw and edit polylines
- Blend between objects with splines
- Apply hatches and gradients
ORGANIZE OBJECTS
- Change object properties
- Alter layer assignments for objects
- Control layer visibility
- Assign properties by object or layer
- Manage layer properties
REUSE EXISTING CONTENT
- Work with blocks
- Manage block attributes
- Reference external drawings and images
ANNOTATE DRAWINGS
- Add and modify text
- Use dimensions
- Add and modify multileaders
- Use tables
LAYOUTS AND PRINTING
- Create layouts
- Use viewports
- Set printing and plotting options
Prerequisites
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
- Fundamental working knowledge of the Windows environment.
- CAD 101, CAD 201 (or equivalent with instructor approval) or three months working with AutoCAD in the professional environment.
COMPUTER HARDWARE
- Hardware Requirements
- Access to 10 mbps Internet
Free Access to the Software
While you are a student at VDCI, you will be provided free access to the software needed to participate in your course. Throughout your studies at VDCI, it is very important that you have access to good-quality Internet bandwidth with a download speed of 10 Mbps.
Materials
Software (Required)
- AutoCAD
Textbook (Recommended)
- Mastering AutoCAD
- For International Students, VDCI does not ship textbooks internationally. Please click here to obtain the ISBN number and order the book from Amazon in your home country.
Can I work at my own pace?
Yes. You can work at your own pace. Each course is 18 days long. You will have two weeks and three weekends to complete the course. There are set deliverable schedules which are addressed in the course syllabus.
Downloads
- Syllabus (PDF/200KB)
- Certification Objectives (PDF/200KB)
- Career Options (PDF/200KB)
Syllabus
Free Access to the Software
While you are a student at VDCI, you will be provided free access to the software needed to participate in your course. The software provided will either be downloaded directly onto your machine or you will access the software on one of our Virtual Servers. Throughout your studies at VDCI, it is very important that you have access to good-quality Internet bandwidth. It is also very important, if you are accessing our Virtual Servers, that you pay special attention to the MP4 and PDF guidance provided regarding saving your project files (datasets) onto your local machine.
Discussion Forums
There are two discussion forums for the course, the Student Forum and the Graded Forum.
The Student Forum is for you to interact with your fellow classmates, to discuss issues you are having, and get to know one other much like you would in a classroom environment.
The Graded Discussion Forum requires an initial post and a response to another student. These will be part of your final grade. Your initial discussion post is due Monday, one week from the beginning of class, by 11:55pm Pacific Time. Your second discussion post must be a response to another student, and it is due by the end of the course.
VDCI Student Lounge
The VDCI Student Lounge is open to all VDCI Students and Alumni. In the Student Lounge, you are welcome to ask general questions to your VDCI colleagues. Instructors and VDCI staff regularly chime in. This is a great center of engagement for our VDCI community.
Course Lessons
Students will receive a detailed syllabus once they are enrolled in the course.
Lesson 1 - Equivalent of five (5) On-Site Clock Hours
Students create the floor plan while focusing on reading handout dimensions and the layout of the interior walls. Design center is also used to import graphic information.
- PROJECT: Developing the Floor Plan
Lesson 2 - Equivalent of five (5) On-Site Clock Hours
Students create title blocks, title block text files, drawing titles, and various no plot views.
- PROJECT: Developing the Titleblock and Component Files
Lesson 3 - Equivalent of five (5) On-Site Clock Hours
Students add dimensions to their floor plan model.
- PROJECT: Dimensioning the Floor Plan
- PROJECT: Architectural Sheet File - A201
Lesson 4 - Equivalent of five (5) On-Site Clock Hours
Students create a multi-scale drawing that contains enlarged plans of the kitchen, the guest bathroom, the jack and jill bathroom area and also the fireplace area.
- PROJECT: Developing a multi-scale deliverable sheet file
- PROJECT: Architectural Sheet File - A202
Lesson 5 - Equivalent of five (5) On-Site Clock Hours
Students begin developing their roof plan and building a sheet file which will contain both the roof plan and the building elevation.
- PROJECT: Developing the Roof Plan
- PROJECT: Architectural Sheet File - A301
- PROJECT: Creating Keynote Legends
Lesson 6 - Equivalent of five (5) On-Site Clock Hours
Students will be working on the building elevation drawing and integrating it into the A3.1 deliverable sheet file.
- PROJECT: Developing Building Elevation
- PROJECT: Architectural Sheet File - A301
Schedule
Online Course Start Dates
Please click here to see the online course schedule. Online courses begin every three weeks, on a Friday and are 18-days long.
