What do first year students think about learning graphics packages?

This paper discusses the assessment of the change from Auto-des-sys’s FormZ to @Last’s Sketch Up as the primary CAD program in first semester, first year, delivered through a new compulsory course, Human Environments: Design and Representation, and the introduction of a graphic design based elective course, Imaging Our World, in the School of Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at The University of Adelaide. The evaluation process involved pre and post semester questionnaires, weekly feedback from students and course SELTS. The aim is to accurately determine students’ interests in digital media in design and to introduce new and relevant digital media components into the undergraduate degree to provide a suitable and structured lead-in to the Masters of Digital Media program.