Computer Assisted Drawing and Animation taught by Jim Adamson are two great classes where you learn great computer skills as well as CAD skills at a beginner level that becomes mastery over time. Students have the perception that it is an easy class, and it is If you do your work and follow along; it’s not a class you want to fall behind in.

With some projects, students are able to make their CAD drawings come to life with the power of 3D Printing. Jim Adamson’s classroom has two 3D printers as of last year (2014-2015 school year), one small and cheap 3D printer known as the Makerbot and the big boy, which 3D prints almost anything it is told to and prints it in a timely and precise manner. The 3D printer isn’t just limited to the CADD class; several of Adamson’s other classes use it as well.

The animation class usually uses the big 3D printer. When someone in the animation class creates something in 3DS Max, that’s worth an “aww” or a “wow.” Adamson will allow them to print it off using the 3D printer. It’s quite amazing watching something someone created on a program on a computer come to life. In CAD they don’t only make technical and architectural drawings of objects, they also program robots called BOE-Bots to fight one another. They use a CAD program to create objects like defensive or offensive mechanisms to give an edge in the battle. Both classes are a blast. In animation they create multiple animations throughout the year or semester course.

In May, students are given a month to create a 30-second animation about whatever they want, as long as it’s school appropriate. Sounds pretty easy? Huh. A month isn’t really that much time to create a full animation. It’s a lot of work, stressful work if the student started animating late. The students in the classes are usually hard working students. Asking for help in either class comes with great benefits. CAD and Animation students won’t hesitate to help someone if asked.

Although both classes are fun and great to look forward to every day, you must stay on top of the assignments. Just like any other class, forgetting to do an assignment or not doing it in general, really puts you in a deep hole that isn’t easy to get out of, and it’s tedious and takes a lot of time that should be focused on any one of your new assignments. Although you may get behind in some of the projects or assignments, there’s plenty of time to get them done. Work days are great for getting stuff done, and if you happen to have everything done, you can use that free time for getting ahead or helping someone get caught up or to even just chill and relax.  

If you have a creative mind and want to exercise it more, either of these classes would be great for you! Even if you’re not the creative type, these classes are still worth taking; you never know. You might have a great talent you haven’t discovered yet. Both classes are career opportunity classes; just dip your toe into the water to see if animation or CAD is something you would think about pursuing. In the end, if the neither classes are anything you want to pursue as a career, you will at least gain some good computer skills.