According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers in architecture and engineering are expected to grow six percent over the next decade, with most growth projected for engineering occupations. Burning Glass recently teamed up with Autodesk to dive deeper into the world of engineering and manufacturing. Jobs in these areas are facing significant technological advancements, and candidates need to be prepared with relevant skills to successfully enter a dynamic workplace.
Skills Are Currency
In fact, according to the same study from Burning Glass and Autodesk, many companies’ job postings are placing a lower emphasis on education and a higher emphasis on relevant skills. “Skills can transition a worker from one job to another and help both a worker and an employer adapt to ever changing technology and technological advances,” said Rachel Sederberg, Ph.D. Thus, preparing students with relevant workforce demanded skills is paramount for their future career success.
Setting the Skills Foundation
Students need technical knowledge and critical thinking skills to be able to perform on the job. One way to establish technical knowledge and expertise is to leverage relevant applications in the classroom. “Students need to have Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit skills in order to be competitive in the workforce,” said Jeremy Farner, Associate Professor at Weber State University. However, empowering students with advanced technologies skills in applications like AutoCAD and Revit can prove difficult for many educators, especially at the high school level.
Tips and Tricks
If you are looking for new ideas for teaching AutoCAD or Revit in the classroom, then we have good news. On March 22nd at 4 PM ET, we hosted a special professional development webinar for engineering and design educators with Greg King.
Greg King is a Computer Assisted Design Instructor at McCann Technical School in North Adams, Massachusetts. Prior to leaping into a teaching career, Greg was a Senior Mechanical Designer/Project Manager for HVAC projects in both the design build and plan-spec marketplace. Greg has been an Autodesk student & user since 1997 with a primary focus on AutoCAD and Revit.
Greg has an A.S. in Engineering Technology, and holds several accreditations including LEED AP O+M, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, Autodesk AutoCAD Certified User, as well as a MA Construction Supervisor License to name a few.
Outside of the classroom, Greg enjoys exploring the outdoors with his family and on rainy days, blissfully trying to find ways to thank his wife for allowing him to commandeer the dining room table with 3D printers, CNC machines, and laser engravers.
In this webinar, we talked about how Greg uses Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit in his classroom to empower students with valuable drafting and engineering skills. Plus, learn how you can certify your students' Autodesk skills before they enter the workforce. You can view the recorded session here.