Mechanical Drawing Board and CAD Techniques ©2010Unit 1:
Discovering Drafting FundamentalsWebQuest Internet ProjectBecoming a Certified Drafter Introduction
An international aerospace engineering firm is opening a branch in your community, and they are looking for new hires! They seek certified drafters of all experience levels to create technical drawings and plans for the next generation of aircraft. In order to meet this need for certified drafters, the firm is teaming up with local high school mechanical drawing classes to promote drafting certification courses. They have announced a poster competition to educate students on opportunities available to certified drafters in a variety of industries. The goal is to persuade more talented students to consider a career in this field. The class with the most informative and compelling entry will win a tour of the new office. They will also get a chance to network with the firm's executives and to get a leg up in the hiring process! Task
Your class will prepare several entries for the competition. To begin, you will conduct research online and write up your findings. Then, in teams, you and your classmates will create a poster for the competition. For an outstanding entry, make sure your poster is both visually creative and also conveys the essential information. Process - First, on your own, conduct research on the Internet, and take notes as you write. Look into the nature of work that drafters do. Investigate the occupational outlook, salary, and working conditions. What are the opportunities for advancement?
- Next, learn about the training and education necessary for a career in drafting. What are the opportunities for lifelong learning?
- Read about the certification program through the American Design Drafting Association. What are the advantages to being certified? How does a drafter get certified, and how much does it cost?
- In class, divide up into small teams. Share your research with the group, and listen to you classmates' findings. What are the most interesting facts you uncovered? Do everyone's findings agree?
- Remember, the purpose of the poster is to inform and persuade. As a group, choose the points you think will best meet this goal. These should be written clearly on the poster.
- Your poster should also be visually interesting and organized. Design a poster that will attract the attention of the judges.
- Finally, before submitting your posters to the competition, present your poster to your classmates. Explain the decisions your group made when designing the poster. Review the key points your group chose to include on the poster. Once everyone has presented, the class can vote on which poster they think is most likely to win.
- Turn in your group's poster to your teacher. Good luck in the competition!
Resources
Here is a list of Web resources to help you create a winning entry: Career Research Certification Information Poster Design Resources Evaluation
| Beginning
1 | Developing
2 | Accomplished
3 | Exemplary
4 | Score | Research | Information is inaccurate or inadequate | There is evidence of only a little research | Research is thorough and relevant | Research is thorough, and the information selected is detailed and interesting | | Information Conveyed by Poster | Little relevant content is included | Some relevant content is presented | All content relevant to the topic is included | Content is complete, and additional interesting details are included | | Writing Quality | Most of the writing is not in complete sentences, and most capitalization and punctuation are not correct | Some of the writing is in complete sentences, and some capitalization and punctuation are correct | Most of the writing is in complete sentences, and most capitalization and punctuation are correct | All of the writing is in complete sentences, and
proper capitalization and punctuation are used | | Organization of Information | The poster layout and organization are confusing | Information is organized consistently | The poster's information is organized in a meaningful and attractive way | Information is extremely well organized, and the poster's design eye-catching | | Presentation Skills | The presentation is difficult to follow or too short | The presentation is complete and organized | The presentation is detailed, and student refers to notes only occasionally | The presentation is interesting, thorough, and memorized | |
Conclusion
The competition judges were impressed with your entry, and your class was announced as the winner! Now you are planning for a day at the aerospace engineering firm. Polish up your resume, because you will have the chance to meet hiring managers and decision makers. This could lead to a coveted job with the company!  | 
