Building a SOLIDWORKS curriculum will help your students develop the design, problem-solving, and technical skills they need to turn ideas into real-world solutions. Whether you're introducing CAD concepts to K–12 students, preparing technical college students for the workforce, or supporting advanced engineering coursework at a university, a well-structured curriculum is essential. In this guide, we'll walk through how to build a SOLIDWORKS curriculum that aligns with your students' learning goals, incorporates hands-on projects, and takes advantage of available teaching resources.
Start with Your Students' Learning Goals
Before choosing lessons or projects, consider what you want your students to accomplish by the end of the course. Are they learning the basics of 3D modeling, developing technical skills for future careers, or applying CAD to complex engineering challenges? Defining these goals early will help you build a SOLIDWORKS curriculum that meets your students where they are.
Start by considering a few key questions:
- What is your students' experience level? Determine whether they're new to CAD or already familiar with design and engineering concepts.
- What skills should students develop? Identify measurable outcomes, such as creating 3D models, building assemblies, or producing technical drawings.
- How much instructional time is available? Consider your course length, classroom schedule, and opportunities for hands-on practice.
- How will you measure success? Think about projects and assessments that demonstrate students can apply what they've learned.
With clear learning objectives in place, you can select the right tools, lessons, and projects to help students build confidence and progress toward their goals.
Adapt Your SOLIDWORKS Curriculum to Your Students' Education Level
A successful SOLIDWORKS curriculum should reflect your students' experience, the skills they'll need, and how they'll apply those skills beyond the classroom. Here's how to tailor your approach to different education levels.
K–12: Build Foundational STEM and Design Skills
For K–12 students, focus on sparking curiosity and building confidence through hands-on design activities. Younger students can begin with age-appropriate 3D design exploration, while middle and high school students can progress to sketching, part modeling, and basic assemblies.
Connect lessons to real-world challenges, such as designing a desk organizer or creating a simple 3D-printable part. SOLIDWORKS offers CAD and 3D printing classroom projects specifically for middle and high school students, complete with teaching guides, example files, and instructional materials.
Technical Colleges: Focus on Job-Ready CAD Skills
Technical college students need practical skills they can apply in manufacturing, drafting, and engineering technology careers. Prioritize parametric modeling, assemblies, technical drawings, and designing for manufacturability.
Give students opportunities to complete projects that reflect real workplace tasks, such as modeling a mechanical component and preparing production-ready drawings. The SOLIDWORKS Academic Curriculum includes fundamentals of 3D design and engineering resources that instructors can incorporate into career-focused coursework.
Universities: Connect CAD to Engineering Applications
At the university level, students should move beyond modeling fundamentals to apply CAD throughout the engineering design process. Incorporate complex assemblies, design validation, simulation, and opportunities to refine designs based on performance requirements.
Encourage students to apply these skills through collaborative engineering projects, research assignments, or capstone courses. SOLIDWORKS provides 3D design and simulation curriculum resources, including tutorials that can support more advanced engineering instruction.
Build a Progression from CAD Fundamentals to Real-World Projects
Once you've established your learning goals, the next step is organizing lessons that gradually build students' skills. Start with foundational SOLIDWORKS concepts before introducing more complex design challenges.
A structured learning progression might include:
- CAD Basics: Introduce the SOLIDWORKS interface, navigation, and file management.
- Sketching and Part Modeling: Teach students to create sketches, apply dimensions and relationships, and build 3D parts using features like extrudes and cuts.
- Assemblies: Explore how individual components fit and function together using assembly mates.
- Technical Drawings: Show students how to communicate designs through dimensions, annotations, and engineering drawings.
- Real-World Projects: Challenge students to apply their skills, test their designs, and make improvements based on project requirements.
Adjust the pace and complexity of each stage based on your students' experience and course objectives. The goal is to help students understand not just how to use SOLIDWORKS, but why they're making specific design decisions.
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Take Advantage of SOLIDWORKS Teaching Resources
You don't have to build every lesson from scratch. SOLIDWORKS offers educational resources designed to help instructors spend less time developing course materials and more time supporting student learning.
The SOLIDWORKS Academic Curriculum provides materials you can incorporate into your existing coursework or use as a foundation for new lessons. Depending on the resource, these include:
- Educator and student guides: Structured materials to support classroom instruction and independent learning.
- Tutorials and exercises: Guided activities that help students practice CAD fundamentals and develop their modeling skills.
- Classroom projects: Hands-on design challenges that connect software skills to practical applications.
- Advanced learning resources: Materials covering engineering concepts such as simulation and design analysis for students ready to build on the fundamentals.
Whether you're developing an introductory CAD course or expanding an established engineering program, these resources can help you create engaging lessons while adapting instruction to your students' needs.
Note: Some materials may require an active SOLIDWORKS Education subscription. See more information here.
Evaluate Student Progress and Consider Certification
As students develop their SOLIDWORKS skills, regular assessments can help you identify areas for improvement and measure progress toward your learning goals. Rather than evaluating only the finished 3D model, consider how students approach the design process.
Project-based assessments can measure students' ability to create accurate models, apply design intent, troubleshoot errors, and communicate their design decisions. For example, challenge students to modify an existing part to meet new requirements and explain their changes.
For students ready to demonstrate their skills beyond the classroom, SOLIDWORKS certifications provide an opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials. The Certified SOLIDWORKS Associate (CSWA) certification is a great starting point for students developing foundational modeling skills, while more advanced certifications can support continued growth.
Want to explore certification opportunities for your students? Read our SOLIDWORKS Certification Guide to learn about certification levels, preparation, and how credentials can support students' future careers.
Bring Your SOLIDWORKS Curriculum to Life with CADimensions
Building an effective SOLIDWORKS curriculum starts with understanding your students' needs, setting clear learning goals, and providing opportunities to apply their skills through hands-on projects. With the right resources and support, you can create a learning experience that prepares students for future opportunities in engineering, design, and manufacturing.
Whether you're introducing CAD to K–12 students, developing workforce-ready skills at a technical college, or advancing engineering education at a university, CADimensions is here to help. Our team can guide you through SOLIDWORKS Education solutions, instructor training, and the resources you need to support your program.
Ready to build a SOLIDWORKS curriculum that works for your students? Connect with the CADimensions Education Team to explore how we can help bring your curriculum goals to life.
