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cbaer
01-10-2010, 07:33 PM
Hi all -

I'm a high school design teacher looking for recommendations. We switched from teaching AutoCAD to teaching Google Sketchup in our computer-based design classes a few years ago (with a few unsuccessful in-between experiments) when our lab switched from PC to Mac. Sketchup's been great, but after a few years of teaching an all-Sketchup course to teach drafting and modeling principles, I feel like we could do something more. I don't know what - maybe create realistic renderings, animate our models, or ...?

What do you recommend we add to our curriculum? Which affordable, easy-to-learn,
Mac-friendly software packages would you recommend? Would Blender be appropriate to teach to an average high-school kid? What about Cinema4D? What directions to you recommend we go next?

Thanks for your advice-
Chris
Art, Design & Technology 9-12 teacher
KrzysztofFus
01-18-2010, 04:18 AM
Teach XSI MOD TOOL.
Reasons.

1. Its used in the industry.
2. It has some great modeling tools.
3. Its Free for non Commercial work
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/item?id=13571257&siteID=123112

There, now the school board wont complain about having to spend tens of thousands on a decent software.
MaxBickley
01-18-2010, 07:28 PM
Teach XSI MOD TOOL.

XSI is a PC only program, not Mac friendly.

What do you recommend we add to our curriculum? Which affordable, easy-to-learn,
Mac-friendly software packages would you recommend? Would Blender be appropriate to teach to an average high-school kid? What about Cinema4D? What directions to you recommend we go next?

I would consider two things: Cinema4D, as a fully licensed tool that the students could use for projects(I taught myself C4D back when I was in high school, and found it to be a lot of fun). Blender would also be appropriate, but I think the value and learning curve of C4D would be of greater use. I would also consider installing the Personal Learning Editions of Maya, in case you have students who wish to go a step above, and it's free to try out so that way if you don't find yourself having students who want to use Maya, you haven't wasted any money, and if you do find yourself having students who want to learn Maya, you could proceed with purchasing a license or two. The other advantage to picking these two programs is the wealth of training material out there, so not only can you make lessons based around that training material, you can also be sure to stay a step ahead of your students when they inevitably come to you with questions.
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