Introduction to Drafting Technology & CADD

Course Description

This course introduces students to the foundational principles and practices of technical drafting and Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CADD). It is the first course in the Florida Drafting and Design Technology program sequence and prepares students for employment or further education in the drafting industry. The content includes freehand sketching, hand drafting, and computer-aided drafting using industry-standard software. Students develop technical literacy skills applicable to engineering, architectural, mechanical, and construction careers. CADD is integrated throughout the course as a drafting tool, not treated as an isolated unit, so students move between hand drafting and CADD to reinforce core concepts.

This course is classified under the Engineering Technologies > Technical Drafting taxonomy of the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS), course number TDR0300C, and is part of the Architecture and Construction career cluster as defined by the Florida Department of Education CTE Curriculum Frameworks (2025–2026).

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply basic drafting skills — Use drafting equipment, measuring scales, and drafting instruments; identify various drafting media and techniques; and use freehand lettering techniques including cursive and block styles.
• Demonstrate algebra mathematics knowledge and skills related to drafting applications, including measurement, scaling, and geometric calculations.
• Prepare multi-view drawings — Produce orthographic projections using standard first- and third-angle projection methods in compliance with industry standards.
• Prepare sectional views — Apply cutting-plane lines and section lining conventions to communicate internal features of objects.
• Apply basic dimensioning — Dimension drawings accurately using ANSI/ASME standards for size, location, and notes.
• Prepare pictorial drawings — Create isometric, oblique, and/or perspective drawings to communicate 3-D form.
• Perform basic Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) functions — Navigate CADD software interface; use accuracy enhancement tools including snap, grid, and XYZ coordinate input; create, edit, and manage drawing entities; apply layers, linetypes, and lineweights; and plot/print drawings.
• Read and interpret technical drawings — Recognize when required information is missing from a drawing and apply blueprint reading skills across standard drawing types.
• Identify and apply ANSI drafting standards — Use American National Standards Institute conventions for line types, symbols, scales, and drawing notes throughout all work.

Optional Outcomes

The following outcomes may be covered depending on program depth and available contact hours:

• Prepare auxiliary drawings — Construct primary and secondary auxiliary views to describe inclined and oblique surfaces.
• Prepare surface developments — Construct pattern/development drawings for prisms, cylinders, and transition pieces.
• Prepare a physical 3-D model from a 2-D drawing — Create primitive physical 3-D models from 2-D designs containing linear, angular, and circular dimensions using available prototyping tools.
• Prepare basic architectural drawings — Understand architectural terminology; read and interpret architectural drawings; and prepare a floor plan, roof plan, exterior elevations, and a plot/site plan.
• Demonstrate geometry and mathematics knowledge and skills related to drafting, including applied geometry for geometric construction tasks.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Introduction to Drafting & the Drafting Profession — History of drafting, careers in the field, safety in the drafting lab, and professional standards.
2. Drafting Equipment and Instruments — Use of T-squares, triangles, compasses, protractors, scales (architect's, engineer's, metric), and drawing media.
3. Lettering and Freehand Sketching — Vertical and inclined Gothic lettering; freehand sketching techniques for ideation and communication.
4. Geometric Construction — Bisecting lines and angles, constructing polygons, tangencies, and applied plane geometry.
5. Line Types and Drawing Standards — ANSI alphabet of lines including visible, hidden, center, dimension, extension, section, cutting-plane, and phantom lines.
6. Multiview (Orthographic) Drawing — Third-angle projection; selection and arrangement of views; visualization skills.
7. Dimensioning Fundamentals — Aligned and unidirectional dimensioning systems; size and location dimensions; notes and finish marks per ANSI/ASME Y14.5.
8. Sectional Views — Full, half, offset, broken-out, revolved, and removed sections; section lining conventions.
9. Introduction to CADD — CADD hardware and software overview; file management; coordinate systems (absolute, relative, polar); drawing setup; display controls.
10. CADD 2-D Drawing and Editing — Drawing and editing commands; layer management; linetype and lineweight assignment; text and annotation; basic dimensioning in CADD; plotting and printing.
11. Applied Mathematics for Drafting — Measurement and unit conversion; scale calculations; algebraic and geometric problem solving as applied to drafting tasks.

Optional Topics

• Auxiliary Views — Primary auxiliary views for inclined surfaces; fold-line method.
• Pictorial Drawing — Isometric, cabinet oblique, and cavalier oblique drawing methods; isometric dimensioning.
• Surface Developments and Intersections — Pattern development for prisms, cylinders, and pyramids.
• Introduction to 3-D Physical Modeling — Creating primitive 3-D models from 2-D drawings; introduction to rapid prototyping and 3-D printing concepts.
• Basic Architectural Drawing — Architectural lettering styles; floor plans; exterior elevations; site/plot plans; architectural scales and conventions.
• Blueprint Reading — Reading and interpreting working drawings; title blocks; revision blocks; bill of materials.
• Introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) — Overview of BIM concepts and tools such as Autodesk Revit.

Resources & Tools

• Software: AutoCAD (Autodesk) — primary CADD platform for 2-D drafting; introductory exposure to Revit and/or SolidWorks may be included.
• Hardware: CADD workstation computers; plotters/printers; drafting boards and parallel rules for manual exercises.
• Drawing Instruments: Scales (architect's and engineer's), triangles (30-60-90 and 45-45-90), compass, protractor, drafting pencils/leads.
• Standards References: ANSI/ASME Y14.5 (Dimensioning and Tolerancing); ANSI Y14.1 (Drawing Sheet Size and Format).
• Florida DOE CTE Curriculum Framework: Drafting and Design Technology — Architecture and Construction Career Cluster (2025–2026).
• Textbooks: Typical adoptions include Technical Drawing with Engineering Graphics (Giesecke et al.) or Engineering Drawing and Design (Madsen & Madsen).
• Online Resources: Autodesk Education Community (free student licenses); Florida Department of Transportation CADD resources (fdot.gov/CADD).

Career Pathways

Completion of TDR0300C serves as the foundational entry point to the Florida Drafting and Design Technology program. Graduates and completers may pursue the following pathways:

• CADD Drafter / CAD Operator — Entry-level positions in architecture, engineering, construction, or manufacturing firms producing 2-D and 3-D technical drawings.
• Architectural Drafter — Specializing in residential and commercial building drawings; pathways include Valencia College's Architectural Drafting certificate (24 credits) and Atlantic Technical College's Drafting & CADD program.
• Mechanical Drafter — Producing detailed manufacturing and mechanical assembly drawings; supported by SolidWorks and advanced CADD coursework.
• Civil/Survey Drafter — Preparing site plans, subdivision plats, and civil engineering drawings.
• Associate in Science (A.S.) — Drafting and Design Technology — Available at Valencia College, FSCJ, St. Petersburg College, and other Florida College System institutions; prepares students for supervisory technician roles.
• Rapid Prototyping Specialist (3-D Printing) — Certificate pathway available at Valencia College (12 credits).
• Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) — Students may pursue a B.A.S. in Business and Organizational Leadership or related fields after earning the A.S. degree.

Special Information

Industry Certification Preparation: Students completing the Drafting and Design Technology program sequence in Florida may be eligible to sit for the Autodesk Certified User (ACU) — AutoCAD exam, a widely recognized industry credential. Some Florida institutions also award college credit for approved Gold Standard industry certifications earned in high school through Career Pathways articulation agreements.

ADDA Certification: The American Design Drafting Association (ADDA) offers national certification examinations including the Drafter Certification and Computer Aided Drafting Technician (CADT) credential. Programs aligned to ADDA standards prepare students to apply for these certifications upon program completion.

Program Structure Note: TDR0300C represents the first occupational completion point in a multi-course planned sequence. Students who demonstrate competency at this point may enter the workforce as a drafting assistant or continue in the program for advanced training in mechanical, architectural, civil, or 3-D design specializations. This course is part of a competency-based program aligned to Florida's CTE standards under Section 1007.24(1), F.S.

Articulation: High school students who complete the Introduction to Drafting Technology course through a district technical college may be eligible to receive college credit at participating Florida College System institutions through Career Pathways articulation agreements.