Selecting the adequate tool for engineering tasks

Selecting the adequate visual resource is paramount. Usually, it is badly understood that freehand drawing is obsolete, and it is clearly replaced by CAD, but each tool is required for different specific tasks. Freehand drawing is applied for creative ideation, and CAD for defining the concept solution.

It is very important for an engineering to know the available resources that he can require for his work.

The Visual Literacy For Engineering Education Toolkit provides an example of the selection  set of digital resources for enhancing visual communication, thinking and learning.

How to select the adequate visual resource

It is mostly important to Identify effectively the adequate visual resource according to the specific task. For example, freehand sketching for design ideation and 3D modelling when the design concept is embodied. The prior identification of the required digital tool depends on the knowledge of these, and also to an early investigation of the state-of-the art.

The required tasks for the selection of the visual resources are:

• Identify, evaluate and select digital resources to support and enhance learning and teaching.
• To formulate appropriate search strategies to identify visual resources for each engineering task.
• articulate information needs, to search for data, information and content in Visual environments, to access them and to navigate between them.
• create and update personal searching strategies.
• organise, process, analyse and interpret visual information.
• Identify adequate visual tools and technologies for each technical task.
• Take into account the specific learning goal, environment, pedagogical approach, and learner group when selecting digital resources and planning their use.

Here we can show some situations where we have to select visual media in engineering tasks:

• Finding visual information and resources in digital environments.
• Using Visual digital tools to identify and solve conceptual problems or issues through technological means.
• Accessing needed images and visual media efficiently and effectively.
• Identifying adequate visual tools and visual technologies for each task.
• identifying when it is adequate using freehand sketching and when 3D modelling.
• Using the appropriate graphic tool for specific engineering task.
• Identifying the available graphic tools for engineering tasks.

How are we competent in selection of visual tools?

Using Visual technologies

Any engineer and technician have a plenty of visual resources available for their work and must be aware of this. the required graphic tools for engineering practice. Able to use every graphic technique. Use visual media effectively.

This means that engineers needs to acquire the required knowledge to use graphic tools, since hand drafting to 3D modelling. This is prior to the selection of adequate tools, in order to know what the adequate resource for each task is. This use means a different amount of learning, depending on the specific tool. Learning how to model a mechanism in Fusion 360 is far longer than learning how to sketch freehand the same element. In all cases, real practice of these resources on real cases, is required for the development of this competence, as engineers shall be aware of how these specific tools is useful.

They can use of a digital learning platform to improve spatial abilities.

When engineers are involved in a brainstorming session, he must be confident to use freehand sketches to express ideas in group.

• Generate a 3D model by compatible software for the project requirements.
• Using Visual digital tools (e.g., Tablets) to identify and solve conceptual problems or issues.

What are the skills, abilities and knowledge related:

• Generation of 3D models.
• 2D CAD.
• Drafting.
• Freehand sketching.
• Virtual prototyping.

The criteria for the knowing the achievement grade of using visual technologies are the following: