ITT Tech Tutorials
Hart District Robotics is a FIRST Robotics team composed of students from all the high schools in the district, but is based out of Academy of the Canyons located in the Santa Clarita Valley. During the first week of this year, the team attended tutorials provided by their sponsor ITT Technical Institute. They spent three days learning the basics of AutoCAD, communications, AC/DC and digital electronics, project management, and Autodesk Inventor.
Tuesday, the team received tutorials in which members were taught how to use AutoCAD—a computer-aided design program for creating 3D models. The instructor, Professor Martin Andaya, led them through the process of creating a design as well as teaching students the specific jargon of the trade. Team members designed a table to become familiar with the program. Towards the end of the session, the professor gave them a poster of the team members that attended that tutorial. After lunch, they were given a tutorial on different methods of communication. Professor Mary Pivetti, who led the class, taught team members about Google Docs, Lynda.com and LinkedIn.
Wednesday, Hart District Robotics team returned to the Sylmar building to learn the basics on AC/DC and Digital electronics. The morning class was AC/DC Electronics taught by Professor Rashidi. He lectured on the difference between AC electricity, and DC electricity and the make-up of circuits, including inductors, resistors, conductors, and capacitors. The afternoon class on Wednesday was Basic Digital Electronics. The team learned how to use a computer program that allows the user to simulate electric wiring. The program allowed students to use components that would be used in complex circuits.
Thursday, the team received tutorials on project management and Autodesk Inventor. The morning class was project management taught by Professor Tim Trieu. It focused on was somewhat a continuation of the concepts in the communications tutorial, as the team learned more features about Google Docs, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Project. Returning from lunch, the team received our last tutorial on Autodesk Inventor taught by Professor Michael Suave. Inventor is also a CAD program that has a lot of the same features of AutoCAD. Team members were led through a series of steps to create a random object. Suave finished with giving team members some free time to create parts and even an assembly to create our own assemblies.
Through ITT's support and guidance, this team is able to provide a strong and successful program for high school students in the Hart High School District.
Picture on the poster Professor Martin Andaya gave the team members.