A study to identify selected factors affecting the implementation of computer-aided design and drafting in industrial technology baccalaureate programs

The purpose of the study was to identify and analyze selected factors affecting the present status of Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) and those factors which were needed to reach a desired level of CADD implementation in Industrial Technology Baccalaureate Programs (ITBPs) in the United States. The intent of this study was to identify and analyze selected factors which facilitate the implementation of CADD in ITBPs within the United States. One hundred and sixty-four ITBPs institutions from the 1992 National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT) Directory were used for participation in this study. A questionnaire identifying both current and ideal status was constructed and validated through the pilot-test. The instruments were distributed, collected, and the data analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A frequency distribution was used for all variables. A mean rank was computed for the selected factors which inhibited the implementation or continuation of CADD in ITBPs. Selected Findings and Conclusions were: (1) A majority of respondents (91%) reported that they offered one or more CADD courses in their departments; (2) The majority of respondents (52%) indicated that for the current status, CADD was required of all majors in their departments. At the perceived ideal level, an overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) believe that CADD should be required for all majors in their departments; (3) a combination of separate CADD courses and CADD integrated into all design and drafting courses was recommended regarding CADD instruction by a majority of the respondents (67%); (4) Funding was the most inhibiting factor in the implementation or continuation of CADD in ITBPs, receiving the highest mean (4.34 on a 5-point scale). Based on the information collected in the survey, selected Recommendations were: (1) Industrial Technology Programs should hire more faculty who have expertise in the area of CADD in order to facilitate the implementation of CADD in their departments. (2) Vendor workshops and in-house training programs should be provided to faculty who need assistance to enhance their CADD knowledge so as to facilitate the implementation of CADD in their departments. (3) All industrial technology instructors should be encouraged to integrate CADD into their design and drafting programs. (4) Industrial technology instructors should be encouraged to develop their own instructional materials to suit their particular curriculum needs