Onshape: Free Professional 3D CAD in the Classroom

Extracurricular activities and clubs are where student passions and ideas take center stage. Whether it is a robotics team or an entrepreneurship club, these after-school groups are full of student enthusiasm and energy. At many schools, teachers are learning to channel this energy into the classroom. Not just by focusing on new fun and creative approaches to learning, but also by incorporating the latest tools, technologies and techniques. 

One of the reasons schools have difficulties using modern tools is that they are expensive. Some technologies, however, have come down in price and are opening up vast possibilities within education. A prime example is 3D printers. 

3D printers have opened up the world of design, prototyping, and engineering to students all around the world but even so, many overlook the fact that to 3D print something, you first have to design it.

Computer-aided design (CAD) software does just that. Unfortunately, most CAD programs cost more than the 3D printer itself! Some companies offer free or discounted educational versions, but they are often limited in scope and can be hard to set up and learn.

Cloud-Native CAD for Education

Onshape by PTC is doing for CAD what 3D printers did for the manufacturing industry — drastically reducing the barrier to entry and making it a viable option for schools and education.

At Onshape, we’re passionate about bringing STEM concepts — science, technology, engineering, and math — to the classroom in a pragmatic, real-life context. Here’s how we’re doing it:

• Free Professional-Grade 3D CAD: Onshape offers a completely free version of its software with much of the same functionality as the professional version. It’s engineered to be easy to set up and get started.

• Use On Any Device: Because Onshape is cloud-native, you no longer need to invest in expensive computers and manage complicated installs. Your time is best spent working with students and delivering engaging lessons on any device, including Chromebooks. Let Onshape remove those distractions so you can teach.

• Immediate Access: You and your students can go here and set up your free account in less than 2 minutes! 

• Curriculum Guidance: Onshape is creating curriculum for teachers to use in their classrooms. We’ve created the course Intro to CAD, which contains everything a teacher needs to get started teaching CAD. The five-unit course contains videos, exercises, and quizzes and covers everything that first-time users need to know to learn CAD. 

• Onshape Learning Center: Find self-paced courses and modeling exercises to assign to students or use yourself to build your skills. 

• Onshape Certification: Onshape provides certification for students and professionals alike. The Certified Onshape Associate program sets students up for success in the industry and can help schools secure valuable career and technical education funding. Find out more about certification.

• Onshape Educator Plan: Created specifically for educators, the Onshape Educator Plan provides free access to advanced features like Classes & Assignments, and Simulation.  Classes & Assignments is a powerful feature to help educators distribute assignments, provide feedback, collect student work, and stay organized.