CAD/CAM Research Papers

Computer Aided Design:Implications for Pupil Attainment and Assessment (PDF file)
Tony Hodgson and Alister Fraser, July 2007

Previous research has established that, at the very least, the introduction of CAD into design practice led to the better communication and presentation of ideas in the form of high quality outcomes. It recognised that the predominant use of CAD as a means of output is likely to be encouraged by its ability to directly support separate points of assessment rather than focussing on the act of designing itself.

Fashioning Our Future; Education in Fashion and Textiles in the UK (PDF file)
Rose Sinclair, July 2007

This paper considers the current position of textiles education in the UK. It examines some of the social and economic drivers that caused a decline in textile technology in the curriculum and considers some of the initiatives that aim to address this problem. This paper explores the issues that have caused this situation and identifies a range of resources and initiatives that can be used to encourage students to engage with textiles.

3D-CAD: Modern Technology - Outdated Pedagogy (PDF file)
Dr. Ivan Chester, 2007

For some teachers it may be hard to believe that 3D-CAD has now been taught in secondary schools for more than twenty years. My own experience dates back to around 1984 with the introduction of the British architectural package 'Scribe' into schools in Canberra, Australia. Despite a brief, and totally unsatisfying, foray into 2D-CAD in the late 1980s I have been teaching 3D-CAD to students, undergraduate design and technology teachers and teachers ever since. In late 2001 I somewhat recklessly volunteered to co-ordinate Pro/DESKTOP training throughout Australia on behalf of the Industrial Technology and Design Teacher's Association and am now in the early stages of working out how to introduce Pro/ENGINEER.