Would you take this job?

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

 

Oh... and my first class is on my first day.  Yay.

Lol-fun. 

 Is there a previous version of the class with loaded into the schools online course manager (canvas was the one my schools used) you could build off of as you get a feel for what you want to do?

I'm willing to bet that HACC has spring semester courses in AutoCAD drafting.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

As a homeschooler, let me just mention one thing...

You don't have to be fully knowledgeable in any subject to teach it. You only have to be knowledgeable in what you expect to teach on the first day. 
 

Rinse, repeat.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Turns out, the syllabus is incredibly involved, and includes about 8 major facets, like paint techniques, theatrical design history, teaching AutoCAD, artistic design, modeling

That's the existing syllabus.  Said another way, "that's what someone else thought was important to teach"...and, that person is gone.  What does the current guy (you) think is important and REALLY needs to be known for a job in this field?

You also wrote: 
 [Dean] instead just said "it's not that difficult, it's just guiding students through scenic design using your experience."

My translation here is, "I (Dean) have no idea (or much care) whats taught, that's what you are for."  Further more, "I dont care whats taught as long as it seems genuine and legitimate."  

Duke said:

I'm willing to bet that HACC has spring semester courses in AutoCAD drafting.

 

Yes... I'm teaching it  :)

MrJoshua said:

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

 

Oh... and my first class is on my first day.  Yay.

Lol-fun. 

 Is there a previous version of the class with loaded into the schools online course manager (canvas was the one my schools used) you could build off of as you get a feel for what you want to do?

Yes and no.  When the previous guy retired with a couple middle fingers, some doofus took it off the course info list, but not the actual course sign up list.  Students signed up for it (required course), and the other faculty was like "WE HAVE STUDENTS GRADUATING in May, we need that course."  

I got a recommendation from the former professor for a text that covers some of what the class entails, but a lot of it was all his brain.  He originated that course for the college when they added the department 30-some years ago.  He taught that class for 30 years, so it was second nature to him.

This whole multi-level bureaucracy navigation will be a learning curve for me.  Right now I am the head of my department of one (me) and my boss (the same one who hugs me every day) has complete trust in what I do.  That's about to change if I take this position.

In reply to John Welsh :

I don't disagree with your comments on the syllabus, and I'm sure I could tweak/add/subtract in the future, but I also know that most colleges assign a baseline standard.  For instance, they wouldn't hire a Phlebotomy nursing professor who didn't know the proper procedures for sanitizing the vein site where you poke the needle, and they would likely get fired if they just omitted that part of the learning from the course.  In my case, I feel like I would be omitting 80% of the course standards if I only taught what I actually knew.

As a noob to teaching formally, I'm in for a shock I think.  The most I've taught amounted to covering some classes for friends maybe 3 days.  I covered a public speaking class where they were presenting their speeches, so I just had to listen and give feedback, and I covered an intro to acting class for a day.... which was easy peasy for me.  I just acted like I knew what I was doing :)

John Welsh said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Turns out, the syllabus is incredibly involved, and includes about 8 major facets, like paint techniques, theatrical design history, teaching AutoCAD, artistic design, modeling

 

That's the existing syllabus.  Said another way, "that's what someone else thought was important to teach"...and, that person is gone.  What does the current guy (you) think is important and REALLY needs to be known for a job in this field?

 

You also wrote: 
 [Dean] instead just said "it's not that difficult, it's just guiding students through scenic design using your experience."

My translation here is, "I (Dean) have no idea (or much care) whats taught, that's what you are for."  Further more, "I dont care whats taught as long as it seems genuine and legitimate."  

 

This man speaks Bibles of truth

AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:

John Welsh said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Turns out, the syllabus is incredibly involved, and includes about 8 major facets, like paint techniques, theatrical design history, teaching AutoCAD, artistic design, modeling

 

That's the existing syllabus.  Said another way, "that's what someone else thought was important to teach"...and, that person is gone.  What does the current guy (you) think is important and REALLY needs to be known for a job in this field?

 

You also wrote: 
 [Dean] instead just said "it's not that difficult, it's just guiding students through scenic design using your experience."

My translation here is, "I (Dean) have no idea (or much care) whats taught, that's what you are for."  Further more, "I dont care whats taught as long as it seems genuine and legitimate."  

 

This man speaks Bibles of truth

Very true, but the Dean also A) has no clue of what happens in the trenches, and B) is pretty damned desperate to find someone.  I'm their only choice, and classes already started on the 8th.

I know I'm giving a lot of pushback to everyone's encouragement.  It just comes from fear.  I'm scared E36 M3less, to be honest.

It's a leap I feel I should take.  It just hinges on the Dean's willingness to put my last couple small needs on paper and I'm in.

I keep telling myself, it's an at-will state.  If I hate it, I can ditch it.

Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) said:

I know I'm giving a lot of pushback to everyone's encouragement.  It just comes from fear.  I'm scared E36 M3less, to be honest.

It's a leap I feel I should take.  It just hinges on the Dean's willingness to put my last couple small needs on paper and I'm in.

I keep telling myself, it's an at-will state.  If I hate it, I can ditch it.

Just breathe. You can do this, and it's worth it. 

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

My father was a tech instructor from 1959 till retirement. First, at a tiny adult class comunity collage. His students helped him along. Then at Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. Years after he left I was there - older guys that would realize who's son I was, would tell me the engineers would consult him when they were stumped. Despite that, he was trained in shipboard power (400 hz, ilo 60 hz, like household) I remember growing up with stories of his students helping him along with the transition. Later, he taught at the Vo-Tech program. Remained friends with one of his early students, that helped him make that transition. 
The short version is... YOU Got This!!!

Again, we have not met in person. But I know a bit of what you'll be up against, and the "teaching" part is gonna be the east part of the job for you. One of the best ways for a guy with your (at least the ones I see on here) personality types to get good at something - is to teach it to someone! 
The multi level hierarchy, well , that's just something to overcome. But you've got the people skills for that, too (hey, you've been able to tolerate ME!)

John Welsh, and Paul, have it quite right. The dean does not know, or care. If the students (all of legal age) are mostly happy, he can claim the credit, and your golden!!!

If ya don't like it, there will always be another door to try. Including the one you're stepping out of. 

You're being offered a blank canvas.

Show the students some photos of your past sets and ask what they'd like to learn. Then just Apollo 11 that E36 M3 like you've done since you started at the theater. 

In reply to OHSCrifle :

I didn't catch this discussion until tonight. I read nearly all of it aloud to my wife, as she's currently the costumer for Stetson University, and while she hasn't met you, she knows who you are and what you do. And she also knows that we both have said we wished we lived closer together, and how much I value knowing you.

Her immediate comment about the class was to write your own syllabus, before that was suggested in the following posts.

I understand the anxiety about making such a big life change. I pulled the plug on my horse training career, and started college at age 31. The last time I took a horse to the paddock to race, it really hit me, and I had a sobbing meltdown. I was really terrified, but I'm so lucky that opportunity was there. My life is so much better, while the horse racing industry is shrinking away.

We're both very excited for you and are confident in you. You can do this. And we're going to be here if you need us.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

I didn't catch this discussion until tonight. I read nearly all of it aloud to my wife, as she's currently the costumer for Stetson University, and while she hasn't met you, she knows who you are and what you do. And she also knows that we both have said we wished we lived closer together, and how much I value knowing you.

Her immediate comment about the class was to write your own syllabus, before that was suggested in the following posts.

I understand the anxiety about making such a big life change. I pulled the plug on my horse training career, and started college at age 31. The last time I took a horse to the paddock to race, it really hit me, and I had a sobbing meltdown. I was really terrified, but I'm so lucky that opportunity was there. My life is so much better, while the horse racing industry is shrinking away.

We're both very excited for you and are confident in you. You can do this. And we're going to be here if you need us.

 

I'm speechless.  Thank you, my friend.

I also talk to my friends about "the people on the forum."

I think this sounds like a good opportunity. Doo eet!

Everyone else seems to have the personal encouragement you need covered, so I'll talk about one thing you brought up a few times as a potential scary point, AutoCAD.

I've been around CAD and CAM forever, I currently do contract programming & training for CAM (programming a CNC machine to cut parts).  I teach CAM at the local tech school. 

Your school will have some partnership with Autodesk, the makers of AutoCAD.  They'll have educational resources available like course guides, example projects to teach, etc.

Looks like the contact point would be here: https://www.autodesk.com/training/find-a-partner

I'd be happy to spend an hour or two and explain the basics of working with a CAD system to you if it would help (although I don't have AutoCAD on my system).  I'd be happy to jump onto your computer with you once you sign on and get your copy of AutoCAD, it's been years since I've ran it, but I understand that it really hasn't been updated in that time :)

In reply to WonkoTheSane :

Any similarities to SketchUp?  If so, I might have a head start as I've at least used that a couple times to blueprint a room.

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

Many similarities, but think more archaic. :)

Basically the same idea, line > end point to end point, etc.

Either way, you got this!  And yes, the first semester will be a lot of effort as you figure out what to teach, then less for the second time you do it, eventually you get into a cadence and most is the hard prep work is done already and it makes it a lot easier.

SV reX said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

You don't have to be fully knowledgeable in any subject to teach it. You only have to be knowledgeable in what you expect to teach on the first day. 

My son teaches Chemistry at a university in Peoria, Illinois.

He jokes he can teach any chemistry course because all you have to do is stay one chapter ahead of the students!

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

It's a bit like SketchUp except 3D is far less integrated in AutoCAD.  And the user interface sucks a big bag of Hennessy Honda snacks, unfortunately.

However, we can talk you through it if needed.  As suggested above, you should be able to get a free-or-very-cheap educator license for AutoCAD from Autodesk, as Wonko says above.

That being said, AutoCAD is fantastically out of date.  It is going the way of the dodo.  Is there a need to work in that specifically?  I realize it's on the syllabus, but is that purely a legacy thing, or is AutoCAD big in the theatre world?  From my experience with theatre consultants and auditorium design, it is not.

I respectfully submit that if you are starting from scratch anyway, that you begin in Autodesk Revit instead.  It can have a steep learning curve, but you're facing that with AutoCAD too.  Revit is superior in every way to AutoCAD, and is continuing to displace AutoCAD on a daily basis.  Educator / student versions are also available.

In reply to Duke :

Totally in agreement that you should replace AutoCAD with Revit, at least in the future.. 

I'd also suggest reaching out to almni of the program and their employers, find out what they're using the real world after leaving the program.  Perhaps an "intro to CAD" using free tools like FreeCAD, Blender, SketchUp, Etc. is more beneficial because no theaters on the East Coast have a license for AutoCAD anymore?

Either way, don't be scared of any drafting tools, there's a lot of enginerds and designers here would be happy to help.

Revit was designed from the ground up to work in 3D, unlike AutoCAD which basically had any semblance of 3D forced into it 25 years ago.

For someone of Curtis's mindset and experience, I think Revit will actually be much easier to learn than AutoCAD.  Each object - door, wall, window, floor - is "built" in the computer model as it will be built in real life.  It is absolutely more analagous to the final product than any drafted representation could ever be.  And so many tasks are more automated in Revit than AutoCAD.

So if, say, you want a 2x4 backdrop wall that has drywall one side and is 20 feet long and 12 feet high, you pick the wall tool, pick that wall type, and tell it how tall to make the wall.  Then you "draw" the wall in the length and configuration you want, including any end returns.  You pick the door tool, tell it what kind of door, and plop it in the wall where you want it.  All these elements can have materials built in, so they know what they are and will appear accordingly.  You can, however, do everything generically as well.

Since all this stuff exists in 3-space, now you can immediately generate plan, cross section, and elevation views with minimal additional work.  But the real beauty of it is that you can make any 3D views you want - perspectives, aerials, renderings, etc.  So you can see what the set will look like from anywhere in the house, in real time!  You can even do walkthroughs, with a variety of 3rd-party rendering programs.  Materials can appear realistically, so if you have a backdrop painted like a brick wall, you can digitally paint it with brick - one mouse click - and see what it looks like.

There are tons of free downloads for objects, furniture, architectural elements, you name it, so you don't have to know how to model anything until you get good at it.  There are lots of tutorials, etc on YT and various blogs.  Plus a number of us on here who would be happy to help.

Unless there is a specific requirement to use AutoCAD, I strongly urge you to go this route.  You'll be better serving yourself, the theatre program, and most importantly, the students.

Datsun240ZGuy said:

SV reX said:

In reply to Curtis73 (Forum Supporter) :

You don't have to be fully knowledgeable in any subject to teach it. You only have to be knowledgeable in what you expect to teach on the first day. 

My son teaches Chemistry at a university in Peoria, Illinois.

He jokes he can teach any chemistry course because all you have to do is stay one chapter ahead of the students!

I fully agree with this statement!