SolidWorks Training for Teachers

This summer marked the second cohort of teachers to complete a four-day introductory training of a Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) software called, "SolidWorks."  With nine teachers in cohort #2 and nine teachers in cohort #1 there is a large contingent of teachers who offer SolidWorks at the following high schools: Lewiston, Nezperce, Prairie, Troy, Kamiah, Orofino, Pomeroy, Clarkston, Pullman, Asotin, Grangeville, Potlatch and Moscow.  Teachers and industry are staying connected through student tours, attending professional development opportunities, inquiring about SolidWorks practices/processes on an industry-based list serve, and sending their students to competitive events to demonstrate their capabilities. 

The project titled, "SolidWorks in the High Schools," is a collaborative initiative that started with the Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers Association (NIMA) as a way to better connect industry to high school students by means of a common language (SolidWorks software).  Support for implementing this project was found in area high schools and funding for software and training was made available through collaborative efforts by Northwest Intermountain Manufacturing Association (NIMA), Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), Tech Prep, Valley Vision, and Lewis-Clark State College.  Area industries also support this program by opening their doors to participating high school programs so that students can learn about manufacturing and see their SolidWorks object drawings come to life as it is machined. 

Within it's first year of implementation one school demonstrated that Idaho Region II students can compete with high end Boise schools.  Two students from Region II received the silver and bronze medal in the Idaho State SkillsUSA technical drafting competition which uses SolidWorks as one of its CAD tools.

Students with a fundamental knowledge of SolidWorks have the skills necessary to enter the workforce or get a jump start in college programs ranging from two year to four year engineering programs. 

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