This course has a MANDATORY* on-campus Orientation meeting on Friday, Friday, January 20, from 1:00pm until 3:00pm in room 1526 of Highland campus where students will receive an overview of the course and online expectations. Other meetings will be held in an on-line format although the professor may be available for face-2-face meetings at Highland campus as necessary.

Are you prepared to take Dftg 1491? - Please read carefully:

Dftg 1491 is the course where students restore their CAD projects from the advanced CAD courses they have taken in their specialization and refine these projects and collect them into a digital portfolio in an effort to prepare them in the best possible way for future job interviews - or in some cases - for transfer to a university program. Students also create resumes, references and learn job interviewing skills in this course. From a student's point of view, the goal of the course is to prepare for a job search. For this reason, Dftg 1491 is designated the CAPSTONE course of the A&E CAD program, but because it is the capstone course, it is also used by the A&E CAD faculty to assess each student's work before awarding him/her a certificate or degree. For these reasons, students should not take this course until they have completed ALL or MOST of the advanced courses for their degree or certificate.

Sometimes a student who needs 2 or 3 advanced CAD courses plus Dftg 1491 enrolls for all of these courses in the same semester. Because the student needs the projects from the advanced courses to use in his/her portfolio, but hasn’t yet drawn them - and probably won’t have them until the end of the semester - this is not a good strategy either. This student would probably be better off completing the advanced courses and then enrolling for Dftg 1491 in the following semester. That way, the projects from all the advanced courses can be used as the raw materials for their portfolio.

Remember, the ultimate goal is for you to create an outstanding CAD portfolio that will pave the way for you to do well in job interviews.

If you are taking Dftg 1491 as a requirement to complete an A&E CAD certificate this summer but you are committed to completing the AAS degree next semester, I would recommend postponing taking Dftg 1491 in the summer and let us substitute another Dftg course in place of Dftg 1491 in the certificate. That way you can still earn your certificate this semester but will have more Dftg coursework completed before you enroll for Dftg 1491 in order to complete the AAS degree in the following semester.

Note: Students that are seeking ONLY an A&E CAD Certificate (not an AAS degree later) are required to take Dftg 1491 in order to receive the certificate and won't be allowed to substitute another course in its place.

Please take the above into consideration before enrolling for Dftg 1491. If you have questions, email me at douglas@austincc.edu.

This is a hybrid course. This Capstone course is only open to students who have completed the majority of the technical courses required for their degree or certificate - students enrolling for this course are strongly encouraged to contact the professor prior to the end of the Spring semester to see if they qualify for this course.  This course has a MANDATORY* on-campus Orientation meeting in room 1525 of the Highland Campus on Friday, January 20, from 1:00pm until 3:00pm where students will receive an overview of the course and online expectations. The professor will conduct live, online meetings on TBA from 12:30pm until 1:30pm. Participation in these meetings is strongly recommended although videos and other instructional materials for each assignment are available in Blackboard.  *Instructional class meetings will be recorded and posted to Blackboard for students who are not able to attend. Students will receive a detailed confirmation email from the professor prior to the start date. Contact the instructor, Douglas Smith, via email: douglas@austincc.edu with course questions.

Following the orientation meeting, I will hold live, online Google meetings on TBA from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

Here is the link to these weekly meetings:  TBA

Students will access all of the curriculum for this course from Blackboard. Students will receive a detailed confirmation email from the professor prior to the start date.

Contact Douglas Smith: email douglas@austincc.edu with course questions.

Technology Requirements

Since this course is 100% online, students are required to have the appropriate technology to successfully participate in the course. 

Internet Access: Students must have access to a high speed internet connection (at least 20 Mbps download speed). Click here to test your internet speed. 

Computer Hardware Requirements:

Computer Hardware Requirements: Students must have access to a high speed internet connection and a computer with a Windows 10 operating system that can run desktop software capable of opening work created in prior courses (AutoCAD, Revit, Inventor, Solidworks, Creo, MasterCAM, Cadence Virtuoso, Cadence Allegro, Civil 3D plus Powerpoint* or Adobe Illustrator**). Students can usually download the CAD software for free (except for Cadence products). Online meetings require a computer to have a speaker (or telephone) for audio.

Please note: CAD software runs only on the Windows operating system. It will not run on a Chromebook or Macs with the new M1 chipset. (Intel-based) Mac users will need either Apple Boot Camp or Parallels (click for guides) installed to run CAD software. 

Software Requirements: Software Requirements: You must have the CAD program installed on your computer necessary to open your CAD files plus Powerpoint* or Adobe Illustrator**. Students can download most CAD software for free (except for Cadence Virtuoso). We also recommend downloading a free student version of Bluebeam Revu. ACC students qualify for discounted *Microsoft Office products and **Adobe Creative Cloud purchases. See the Downloading CAD Software link in Blackboard for more information. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free.

ACC students qualify for free Microsoft Office product access. We have posted a guide to obtaining FREE educational access to Microsoft Office on our website here. This course qualifies for discounted Adobe Creative Cloud access. After registering for this course, please use this link to for more information and to purchase your license: https://www.austincc.edu/adobe.

Recommended Accessories: A dual monitor display setup is strongly recommended. A computer with a webcam and a microphone is recommended. If you don’t have access to the technology required for this course, please click here to request help.

Important Meeting Dates

MANDATORY* on-campus Orientation meeting                                           Friday, August 26, from 1:00pm until 3:00pm in room 1525 of Highland campus

First Draft of Resume & Portfolio Outline                                                                                                                      Friday, February 10, 11:59pm

Submit Word file to instructor through Blackboard

Midterm Portfolio Reviews (By Appointment)                                                                                                                              Refer to Blackboard

Last day to Withdraw                                                                                                                                  Consult ACC Academic Online Calendar

Graduation Application Deadline                                                                                                                 Consult ACC Academic Online Calendar

Final Portfolio Reviews (By Appointment)                                                                                                                                    Refer to Blackboard

Accessing CAD Work from Previous Semesters

You will need to access technical drawings from advanced classes taken in previous semesters.

This will require you to have the CAD program installed on your computer necessary to reopen these CAD files. If you do not have access to these CAD programs on your remote computer, you may not be able to complete this course without coming to the Highland campus and accessing the A&E CAD department’s computers.

Click on the Accessing Your CAD Files on ACC Servers link in the left navigation menu of Blackboard for how to restore files saved on the A&E CAD server in past semesters.

ACC Email

All communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account.  Students should expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account unless other arrangements have been made.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php.

Blackboard (Bb)

The entire curriculum of this course will be available online through Blackboard:

·        Distribution of handouts, readings and assignments

·        Instructional Materials including Videos

·        Submissions of assignments and activities

·        Grading

As instructed by your professor, students are required to access instructional materials via Blackboard on a weekly basis.

For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, contact a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.

This course serves as the capstone course for the A&E CAD department and is the course in which most of the department's Program-Level Student Learning Objectives (PSLO's) are assessed.

Course Rationale

This course guides students through the process of creating a professional quality A&E CAD portfolio, resume and references. Job hunting techniques and interviewing skills and strategies are also discussed and presented. This is the A&E CAD department’s capstone course and is only open to students who have completed the majority of the technical courses required for their degree or certificate.

Course Description

For the Summer semester this course is a hybrid distance education/laboratory course. In this course the student selects and develops an advanced course of study under the direction of the professor in the specific area of employment the student is seeking. Particular attention is given to the development of a portfolio suitable for job hunting in the A&E CAD field. May be taken a second time for credit if student arranges for a CAD internship (departmental approval required).

Required Text and Materials

Textbook: Dftg 1491 Student Guide (furnished on‐line via Blackboard)

Portfolio case: Creation of a physical portfolio is not required when this course is 100% online. Students will submit their portfolio to the professor as a 17 X 11 PDF file instead. If you would like to print your portfolio and create a physical portfolio, I recommend the (Itoya Art Profolio 11 X 17- available at Jerry’s Artarama, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, or on-line) or comparable model.

Grade Determination:

All projects will be submitted through Blackboard.

Grades will be determined as follows:

Students can earn a total of 100 points.

·        90-100 points = A

·        80-89 Points = B

·        70-79 Points = C

“C” Option

70 points – Produce and submit a professional quality portfolio of A&E CAD work suitable for seeking employment in the technical drawing field (as judged by the professor at the final portfolio review) ‐ containing 30 – 40 sheets (a minimum of 25 sheets containing technical drawings or graphics).

• 25 Points for Portfolio Outline and Midterm Portfolio Review & Submission:

Portfolio Outline:  The student will prepare an outline of their proposed portfolio following the directions shown in Module 1 of Blackboard and submit it by the date assigned at the orientation – this outline is worth 5 points.

Midterm Portfolio Review:  Students should continue to follow the directions in Module 1 to create a Midterm Portfolio which is a draft, or mockup, of the 17 X 11 portfolio with drawings placed in their intended order, with either redlines from previous semesters completed and printed or the actual redlined drawing sheets as a placeholder and is due on the date assigned by your professor. The Midterm Portfolio is worth 20 points. Note: Points for the outline and midterm are awarded after these assignments have been reviewed and accepted by your professor. Students are responsible for obtaining redlined final drawings from previous instructors at the beginning of this semester and should set appointments to review drawings with former faculty before the midterm review. Faculty members will review portfolios individually with students at this review and may provide redlines, markups, comments and/or corrections to projects, but no redlines or markups will be provided after the Midterm Review. Students are also responsible for recovering digital files for revision from coursework in previous semesters. The final resume and references are due at this meeting.

Attendance at the Midterm Portfolio Review is mandatory — students who fail to attend this review on the date assigned (or make other arrangements) may be dropped from the course.

• 45 Points for the Final Portfolio Review & Submission:

Final Review:  Students should follow the directions shown in Module 1 of Blackboard to create their final portfolio which should include all sheets in a 17 X 11 format, placed in their intended order, with all corrections completed, divider pages and cover sheets included, and any other requirements as outlined in the course material. At the Final Portfolio Review, students shall make a portfolio presentation to the full‐time faculty noting projects and drawings which demonstrate the skills, behaviors, and competencies defined by the Program‐Level Student Learning Outcomes have been mastered for the award (degree or certificate) the student is seeking. Students should submit the Final Portfolio review form, including 2 peer reviews at, or before, this meeting.

“B” Option:

80- 89 Points - Complete “C” work and produce a professional quality resume* and references suitable for seeking employment in the A&E CAD field. 15 points total as broken down below:

• 7.5 Points for the Resume (must be accepted by your professor for credit)
• 7.5 Points for the References (must be accepted by your professor credit)

*The first draft of the Resume is due by 5:00pm on the date assigned. Send your resume as a Word document attached to an email to the instructor by the due date. The student should also submit an outline or schematic of their proposed portfolio at the time they submit the first draft of their resume.

The final resume and references are due at the midterm meeting.

“A” Option:

90 – 100 points - Complete “C” and “B” work as noted above and complete one or more of the extra job interviewing activities as directed in Module 4 of Blackboard (15 points maximum):

• 7.5 Points for attending a Big Interview Online Training – Fast Track Path (minimum) offered through ACC’s Career Services Center. Fast Track consist of 16 videos.
• 7.5 Points for attending Mock Job Interview Training offered through ACC’s Career Services Center.

  Alternate Activity:

• 7.5 Points for providing proof that you have interviewed for, and been offered, a paid CAD job. In most cases, this proof is substantiated by providing your professor with a copy of the offer letter or email you received from the organization.

Incomplete Grades:

See ACC policy in Withdrawals and Incompletes section below.

Academic Integrity

Sharing any portion of drawing file of a class project with another student without the consent of the professor, or representing another student’s drawing file or image as your own work, is a violation of the A&E CAD department’s Scholastic Dishonesty policy.

Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course, the assignment being replaced with a different project with a reduced maximum grade, and/or expulsion from the college.

In consultation with the department chair, the instructor may resolve a scholastic dishonesty matter in one or more of the following ways:

• Dismissing the allegation;
• Issuing a written warning that further violations may result in additional penalties;
• Requiring the student to revise or replace the work in which the violation occurred – including a reduced maximum grade;
• A reduction in the grade on the work in question;
• A failing grade on the work in question;
• A failing grade or other denial of credit in the course;
• Recommending disciplinary sanctions to the Dean of Student Services.

Within 5 (five) business days of the meeting with the student, the instructor shall provide written notification of the resolution to the student, the department chair, the instructional dean, for informational purposes, and to the Dean of Student Services, for possible disciplinary action.

ACC Withdrawal Policy

The College defines withdrawals as occurring after the official reporting date of the semester, typically the 12th class day.  In addition, the Legislature has mandated the Rule of Six (see below).  There may also be financial aid issues.

“It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the rolls should they decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is recorded before the Final Withdrawal Date.  It is the student's responsibility to learn the Final Withdrawal date (consult ACC's online calendars).  The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.

ACC Incomplete Policy

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant.  The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not.  The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an I grade. 

1.      Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date.  This meeting can occur virtually or in person.  The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

2.     The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student.  The student will then complete his/her section, sign (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement.  A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.   

3.      The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above.  This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent long semester.  

4.      Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course section materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.  

5.      When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit an electronic Grade Change Form to change the student’s performance grade from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F. 

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F.”  Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.”

Course Contract:

The majority of the course is self-paced.  Students will plan, design and produce their own portfolios.  Students will submit a Course Contract through Blackboard following the orientation meeting. 

Distance learning requires a unique set of knowledge, skills and attitudes in order for students to be successful. Even students who excel in a face-to-face setting may struggle in a distance learning course if they are not prepared or do not know what to expect. Clearly explaining the factors that will help them successfully adapt to the distance learning mode of delivery will set proper expectations with your student and improve their chances of success.

The personal traits and characteristics that contribute to success in distance learning courses, as identified by ACC's Instructional Development Series, are listed below:

Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Prepare a professional-quality portfolio suitable for seeking employment in the fields of technical drawing and CAD.

• Prepare a resume suitable for seeking employment in the fields of technical drawing and CAD.

• Prepare references suitable for seeking employment in the fields of technical drawing and CAD.

• Apply job hunting strategies and interviewing skills required of a job search in the A&E CAD field.

A&E CAD PROGRAM LEVEL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (PSLO’s) – At the completion of an award (certificate or AAS degree) students will create a portfolio of projects the demonstrate mastery of the PSLO’s defined for the award. Note: In most cases, successful completion of the projects assigned in the advanced courses of the award meets the standard set by the PSLO. A&E CAD awards and their corresponding PSLO’s are listed below:

At the completion of the AAS degree –Architectural Specialization ‐ the student will be able to:

A1.     Operate AEC (Architecture/Engineering/Construction) software including computer aided drafting (CAD), building information modeling (BIM), and 3D modeling applications to plan and prepare construction documents and technical graphics appropriate to the architecture and construction industries.

A2.     Utilize various architectural drawing types and determine their appropriate uses in architectural projects to demonstrate knowledge of building systems and familiarity with building codes.

A3.     Demonstrate knowledge of architectural concepts of foundational architecture courses as outlined in the 2014 Student Performance Criteria (SPC) established by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

  I1.       Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to a range of

             design, manufacturing, and construction industries.

At the completion of the AAS degree –Civil Specialization ‐ the student will be able to:

C1.     Utilize CAD drafting & design software to plan and prepare construction documents, technical graphics and visualizations appropriate to the civil infrastructure industry.

C2.     Demonstrate knowledge of civil drafting and design procedures; familiarity with design criteria, and their appropriate uses in civil infrastructure projects.

C3.     Perform analyses and calculations suitable for civil infrastructure drafting & design processes.I1.    Utilize CAD

           software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to a range of design,

           manufacturing, and   construction industries.

  I1.       Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to a range of

             design, manufacturing, and construction industries.

At the completion of the AAS degree –Mechanical Specialization ‐ the student will be able to:

M1.    Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to the mechanical engineering industry.

M2.    Generate code from CAD/CAM software to operate a 3‐axis CNC milling machine to manufacture a mechanical part.

M3.    Illustrate correct usage of ASME Y14.5 and other associated mechanical standards in technical graphics of capstone projects.

  I1.        Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to a range of

              design, manufacturing, and construction industries.

At the completion of the AAS degree –Electronics Graphics Specialization ‐ the student will be able to:

  E1.    Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare technical graphics and documentation appropriate to

            the Electrical/Electronic Engineering industry.

  E2.     Utilize CAD software to translate schematics, logic diagrams, and other technical graphics into the physical

            layout of Integrated Circuits and Printed Circuits.

  E3.    Employ CAD‐based verification tools and techniques to debug Integrated Circuit layouts

  I1.    Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to a range of design,

           manufacturing, and construction industries.

At the completion of the Architectural Drafting/BIM Certificate‐ the student will be able to:

A1.     Operate AEC (Architecture/Engineering/Construction) software including computer aided drafting (CAD), building information modeling (BIM), and 3D modeling applications to plan and prepare construction documents and technical graphics appropriate to the architecture and construction industries.

A2.     Utilize various architectural drawing types and determine their appropriate uses in architectural projects to demonstrate knowledge of building systems and familiarity with building codes.

A3.     Demonstrate knowledge of architectural concepts of foundational architecture courses as outlined in the 2014 Student Performance Criteria (SPC) established by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).

At the completion of the Civil CAD Specialization Certificate the student will be able to:

C1.     Utilize CAD drafting & design software to plan and prepare construction documents, technical graphics and visualizations appropriate to the civil infrastructure industry.

C2.     Demonstrate knowledge of civil drafting and design procedures; familiarity with design criteria, and their appropriate uses in civil infrastructure projects.

C3.     Perform analyses and calculations suitable for civil infrastructure drafting & design processes.

At the completion of the IC Layout and Design Certificate the student will be able to:

  E1.     Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare technical graphics and documentation appropriate to

      the Electrical/Electronic Engineering industry.

 E2.     Utilize CAD software to translate schematics, logic diagrams, and other technical graphics into the physical

      layout of Integrated Circuits and Printed Circuits.

  E3. Employ CAD‐based verification tools and techniques to debug Integrated Circuit layouts

At the completion of the Mechanical CAD/CAM Certificate ‐ the student will be able to:

  M1.    Utilize CAD software to plan and prepare documents and technical graphics appropriate to the

   mechanical engineering industry.

  M2,    Generate code from CAD/CAM software to operate a 3‐axis CNC milling machine to manufacture

  M3.    Illustrate correct usage of ASME Y14.5 and other associated mechanical standards in technical graphics

   of capstone projects.

Instructional Methodology

This Capstone course is only open to students who have completed the majority of the technical courses required for their degree or certificate - students enrolling for this course are strongly encouraged to contact the professor prior to the end of the Spring semester to see if they qualify for this course. 

This course has a MANDATORY* online Orientation meeting where students will receive an overview of the course and online expectations. Professor will hold live online meetings on days TBA at the orientation. *The Orientation and class meetings will be recorded and posted to Blackboard for students who are not able to attend online meetings.

Students will access all of the curriculum for this course from Blackboard. Students will receive a detailed confirmation email from the professor prior to the start date.

Contact Douglas Smith: email douglas@austincc.edu with course questions.

Open Labs

Hours for the online open lab will coincide with the tutoring schedule which will be posted during the first week or two of the semester. You may not be able to complete all the assignments in class, so the online open lab is one of your best opportunities to get help in finishing the lab exercises.

You can access the online tutored lab from the link in Blackboard.

 DFTG 1491 Student Guide (available online thru Blackboard):

Module 1 - Creating a CAD Portfolio 

Module 2 - Creating a CAD Resume

Module 3 - CAD Job References 

Module 4 - Interviewing for a CAD Position

Module 5 - Submitting your Portfolio

Module 6 - CAD Internships
 

The curriculum of this course is presented as Modules in Blackboard. After logging in to Blackboard, the student will see links in the left navigation menu (see example below).

By clicking on the links under the Learning Modules section of the left navigation menu you can open these modules.

All projects will be submitted through Blackboard.

College Policies and Student Support Services Link

Attendance/Class Participation

Regular and timely class participation in discussions and completion of work is expected of all students.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. Students accruing more than two (2) UNEXCUSED absences may be withdrawn from the course at the instructor's discretion.  Students may make-up absences by attending other classes.  It is the student's responsibility to inform instructor when circumstances prevent him/her from attending class.   An instructor may lower a student’s final grade for a course due to excessive absences.

In the event the college or campus closes due to unforeseen circumstances (for example, severe weather or other emergency), the student is responsible for communicating with their professor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor as a result of class sessions being missed.

Policy on Late or Missing Work

Instructors may impose a late penalty on work that is submitted after the assigned due date.

Ownership of Student Work

The Architectural & Engineering Computer Aided Design (A&E CAD) Department reserves the right to retain any and all student work (including but not limited to: original work, scans, photographs, and copies of student work) completed as A&E CAD course work for the purposes of documentation, accreditation, evidence of student performance, university transfer, marketing or any other purpose supporting the mission of the Department and Austin Community College.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices

To avoid disturbing or distracting others during face-2-face classes or open on-campus lab times, students are requested to conduct personal communications of any sort outside of the classrooms. For this reason, the use of cell phones and other PDA’s by students is prohibited inside A&E CAD classrooms (this includes placing or receiving phone calls, text messages and emails). When conducting personal communication in the hallways, please control the volume of your voice so as not to disturb students in nearby classrooms.