Make a FreeCAD high school version

[freedman]

My goals on this site have always been driven by using FreeCAD but also observing the progress and targeting a time when the program is mature enough to get into the school system. My favorite class in high school was drafting and I couldn't wait for the chance to visualize something in 3D and draw it, a very enjoyable experience for some reason. To my topic; first, I'm just starting the conversation, not the work. I think it would be great to make a workbench just for beginners and school kids, it would have limited controls but enough so it could be taught with just a couple pages of documentation. Probably based on Part Design because of the predefined structure and advanced tree visuals. I think the properties section would disappear completely and be replaced by one or two simple controls. The whole interface would be optimized for "keep it simple". Maybe the WB is only sophisticated enough to do this (see pic). I think version 0.18 is is definitely stable enough and powerful enough to work. If the workbench is written then a few folks could try to submit it to the local school boards.

[triplus]

Just use the standard version, or the kids will complain.

[freedman]

the kids will complain

True enough but they will have an assignment to do and will do it for the grade. They can switch to a different WB later.

It's actually kind of funny, I think the simple program is for the teachers and staff, they need to have something simple enough so that when the program is opened they don't have 1000 questions to answer. This stuff seems easy to the experienced but to the new user, it's very complicated.

[freedman]

For instance, if Part Design HS (high school) workbench is designed such that every time sketcher is entered the view switches to isometric and the option "restore camera" view is disabled, the user gets a totally different experience. The design is all done in a 3D view. If some users haven't tried it, it's kind of fun.

[chrisb]

It was discussed before to have different initial setupsfor different user groups, such as architects, machiners, engineers of various kinds. One additional group could be "educational". But that means only a starting configuration. I am all with triplus that I would always give them the full package.

[sgrogan]

My goals on this site have always been driven by using FreeCAD but also observing the progress and targeting a time when the program is mature enough to get into the school system. My favorite class in high school was drafting and I couldn't wait for the chance to visualize something in 3D and draw it, a very enjoyable experience for some reason. To my topic; first, I'm just starting the conversation, not the work. I think it would be great to make a workbench just for beginners and school kids, it would have limited controls but enough so it could be taught with just a couple pages of documentation. Probably based on Part Design because of the predefined structure and advanced tree visuals. I think the properties section would disappear completely and be replaced by one or two simple controls. The whole interface would be optimized for "keep it simple". Maybe the WB is only sophisticated enough to do this (see pic). I think version 0.18 is is definitely stable enough and powerful enough to work. If the workbench is written then a few folks could try to submit it to the local school boards.

I would look at this thread https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 30#p187961
@bejant's @'s are educators, from before high school to after high school.
I would add @yorik, @bernd, and @rockn(https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=37584)

[chrisb]

Here are two more: microelly2, Harry Geier.

[freedman]

Thanks for the links and references, I will continue looking around. The more I think about this; the TCP code would probably need to go and there is just too much that would need to be hidden, I would need to compile myself. There would certainly be a reference to freecadweb.org to get the full version.

Giving students and teachers the standard version is out of the question, no one would go for it. My best analogy; trying to teach a new pilot to fly using a Boeing 747 and the pilot isn't all that interested . There are too many controls and systems to learn before you can take off. Teaching to fly in a simple cub with minimal controls is a better approach for success, especially if you need to teach 5 classes of 30 each.

A side note: I have been using 018.xx for the last few months on all my designs, it's works sooooo good. Thanks for all your hard work.

[herbk]

Hi freedman,

you don't need to create a new WB to get a simple to use FreeCAD, - just personalize the Toolbar and you have all what you need for a easy use.

Start with Part WB and Sketcher (add New Sketch, Draft Clone and Draft Array to Part toolbar and they don't have to change the WB for the first 20 lessons.

Giving students and teachers the standard version is out of the question, no one would go for it. My best analogy; trying to teach a new pilot to fly using a Boeing 747 and the pilot isn't all that interested . There are too many controls and systems to learn before you can take off.

Both is just nonsense... The only thing is: You have to use and show the tool FreeCAD at a way where it is easy to use, because, in different to the 747, you don't need to use the difficult things to start with it.

[chrisb]

My experience: Students (and to some extent teachers) are often capable to do much more then I would believe in the beginning, if I believe in them and if can encourage them to get involved. Don't think about workbenches, icons, functions, ... make them eager to design their own things and you all will be on the winning side.