Take your drafting and design projects on the go with with this mobile computer-aided design program. Allowing users to view, edit, and share their work with others, this is a great resource for developing the technical drawing skills of young engineers and architects.
Concepts
App Overview
While computer-aided design may seem complicated, this app provides learners with the tools and support they need to hit the ground running. After launching the program users are prompted to either log in to their account or create a new account by entering their e-mail address, first and last name, and then creating a password. Once in their account, four sample drawings appear on the the screen including floor plans for two houses, a city planning document, and a 3-D motor. These drawings can be opened and edited using the different tools listed below. If an AutoCAD 360 Pro account has been purchased students can begin creating their very own original drawings, and collaborate with others using the different share options provided. Whether they are designing their dream home or making drawings of a new invention they've developed, this resource, while not as powerful as it's desktop version, is ideal for high school engineering students.
Drawing Tools:
- Draw lines, rectangles, circles, arcs
- Mark up the drawing with text, speech bubbles, photos, and arrows
- Measure distances, areas, radii, and angles within the drawing
- Add linear, diameter, radius, and angular dimensions
- Use GPS to calibrate drawing to real-world coordinates
- Use colored lines to distinguish the different parts of a drawing
- Modify existing objects within the drawing
Viewing Modes:
- 2-D
- 3-D wireframe
- 3-D solid
Share Drawings
- Enter e-mail address
- Set permissions (view only, or view and edit)
- Send collaborators a message
Export Drawings
- Send as PDF file
- Send as DWF file
- Attach to Evernote
- Connect to cloud storage (Autodesk Buzzsaw, Dropbox, Box, EGNYTE, and others)
Curator Rating
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Adherence to task
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Worth the money
The free version of the app offers very limited functionality, but for $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year access to all of the features is provided.
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Fun factor
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Scaffolding of learning
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User safety
Access to e-mail and social media are provided without any security measures.
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Control and feedback
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How techie do I need to be?
Intermediate
Instructional Ideas
- Use this app for teaching a unit on drafting in a high school engineering and technology course
- Create questions to accompany the sample drawings, using them to assess the ability of students to read and understand technical drawings
- After completing their drawings, have students create scale models of their designs
Classroom Considerations
- Resource allows for multiple user accounts on a single device, but students will need to provided their e-mail address and full name to create accounts
- Tutorial videos are hosted on YouTube which your school may or may not allow access to
Pros
- Files can be downloaded for offline use
- Dozens of video tutorials are provided to help new users learn how to use the app
- Drawings can be accessed online by singing into the AutoCAD 360 webpage
Cons
- In order to create new drawings and access all of the features an upgrade is required for $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year