WIP: The Student's Perspective on CAD Software in a First-Year Civil Engineering Graphics Course

Abstract The Students' Perspective on CAD Software in a First-Year Civil Engineering Graphics Course. Abstract This research focuses on the students' perspective on computer-aided design (CAD) software in a first-year civil engineering graphics course. This paper aims to chronicle the students' experience in transitioning from MicroStation to AutoCAD during the semester and to better gauge the extent of how much of each software package should be used. The instructor of the class begins the semester teaching MicroStation due to his experience that students typically have an easier time of learning AutoCAD after learning what seems to be the more difficult MicroStation. This research discusses how the instructor transitions from one software to another and will survey current and prior students who have completed the course to gain their perspective in how well the transition was achieved. The long-term goal of the course is to provide the students with the best educational experience and best prepare them for future classes, internships, and full-time employment. The results of this research summarize the student's perceptions of each software package and their perceptions of transitioning between the software package to help determine how much of the semester should be spent on each software package.