Getting started in the world of engineering education can easily cause digital overwhelm. There’s a wealth of resources and websites online that brand themselves as the best for preparing students for careers in 3D design and engineering careers. At bahabeach, we’re privileged to work with Autodesk, a leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Autodesk wants students and teachers to succeed in engineering and design education. They put their money where their mouth is by offering free software and a host of other free resources. One of their most robust solutions available is the Autodesk Design Academy.
The Autodesk Design Academy helps students and educators unlock their creativity through free access to project-based learning modules and courses in 3D design. Each course teaches how to use design thinking and software skills to make innovative designs that have an impact on people’s lives. Authored by leading architects, engineers, artists, and animators, every one of Autodesk’s courses delivers measurable results aligned with academic and industry standards. Their free learning resources, combined with Autodesk’s commitment to providing free educational software worldwide, give educators and students the full toolset to free their imaginations and start designing.
The Design Academy site makes it easy to find what will work best for your students. Check out the breakdown of the content below:
Learn
The Learn section primarily targets students interested in Autodesk technology, or aspire to careers in architecture, engineering, or design. Here students can take a course, with the option to filter by areas of study, software type, level of knowledge, and planned career path. If they’re not ready to commit to a full course, students can register for a webinar, with the ability to find topics related to any field or industry they plan to pursue.
If your students are looking to learn more about Autodesk applications, the product tutorials would be a great starting point. They can learn from some fantastic Autodesk experts, with courses at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Teach
The Teach section is for all our educators. Whether you are just starting to teach Autodesk applications, or have been teaching it for years, there is something for you. Autodesk applications cover such a broad range of subjects, so the Design Academy team has broken the content down into various pathways: Animation, Architectural Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Engineering, Industrial Design, Maker, and Manufacturing. This way, the content is already pre-sorted for you. You can also view all the content at once, and then filter tutorials and courses by application, field, course completion time, and level.
However, the Teach section is about more than just tutorials. Autodesk has developed challenging projects to help students create unique solutions to design problems. Plus, you’ll find resources to make your life easier: Instructor and student course manuals, datasets, and step-by-step guides.
Portfolios
Looking for ideas from other designers or educators? The Portfolio section is the one for you. Here, students, designers, engineers, educators (you name it really) can upload images, software files, lesson plans, and lectures. Get access to creative content from educators around the world, helping you keep your class engaging and relevant.
Community
At bahabeach, we’re all about creating a community (after all, we achieve much more together than we ever could alone). Luckily, Autodesk agrees. Through the Community section of Autodesk Design Academy, educators and students who are 18-year-old or older can join the global community of engineers and makers, the Ambassador Hub.
Inspiration
The Inspiration section gives you a glimpse of what is happening in the world right now. Find out about recent engineering trends. Learn about the incredible makers that are challenging status quo. See how design is changing and get inspired to create for yourself.
So, what are you waiting for? Join the Autodesk Design Academy community and get ready to level up your teaching. Looking for a live walk-through of the Design Academy platform? Check out our CAD Academy webinar here.