Architectural Design I
In this course, students learn various concepts used in the design and architecture field. They gain an understanding of basic architectural and civil drawings.
In Architectural Design I, students will:
- Prepare drawings manually and using AutoCAD software
- Utilize sequential processes to develop an understanding of creating and annotating drawing
- Apply standard rules regarding line types, offset objects, creating layers, and setting up a page for plotting
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Discover an Architecture Career Path
Prepare students to apply their drafting skills to architectural and design careers.
Student-Centered Design
Grounded in educational research, this course maximizes student motivation and engagement with real-world relevance, hands-on projects, interactive assignments, and accessibility tools.
Ready for the Real World
Students become career ready when they go beyond understanding concepts to applying them in real life. Through practical activities, students gain the skills they need for in-demand careers.
Employability Skills
Students build essential workplace skills—including professionalism, communication, teamwork, time management, conflict resolution, safety, and respect—that support a positive work culture and long-term career success.
Industry Certification and College Credit
Prepare students for the Autodesk® Certified User (ACU) exam from Certiport®—a credential eligible for college credit recommended by the American Council on Education* and trusted by colleges nationwide.
Learn architecture and design skills and explore an Architecture career path.
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Course Outline
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Module Introduction
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Interactive Instructional Design
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Formative and Summative Assessments
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Accessibility
Course Outline by Module
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- Module 1: Basic Drafting
- Module 2: Design and Drawings Part I
- Module 3: Design and Drawings Part II
- Module 4: Design and Drawings Part III
- Module 5: Dimensioning and Annotation
- Module 6: Working Drawings
- Module 7: Pictorial Drawings and Surface Developments
- Module 8:Sequential Processes Part I
- Module 9: Sequential Processes Part II
- Module 10: Sequential Processes Part III
- Module 11: Sequential Processes Part IV
- Module 12: Sequential Processes Part V
- Module 13: Three-Dimensional Drawing Part I
- Module 14: Three-Dimensional Drawing Part II
Module Introduction
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Module Introduction Video and DescriptionEach module begins with an introductory video where the instructor sets the stage for topics and learning objectives for the upcoming module. The video is followed by a short description of the module content.
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Module Learning ObjectivesEach module introduction includes the set of learning objectives for students to review prior to beginning instruction.
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Polling QuestionStudents engage with an interactive poll related to the upcoming module content. After completing the poll, students can see how their peers responded with a percentage breakdown of the results.
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Introduce New VocabularyThe module introduction concludes with an interactive vocabulary matching activity, designed to familiarize students with words and concepts they will learn in the upcoming module.
Interactive Instructional Design
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Engaging Lesson VideosEach lesson begins with an instructional video from an expert educator, designed to grab students’ attention while addressing learning objectives.
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Interactive ReadingEach lesson video is followed by an interactive reading where students dive into new material with embedded interactives like hot spots, flip cards, slides, videos, and more!
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Integrated ActivitiesActivities are embedded purposefully between lessons and incorporate a variety of interactive tools for students to practice what they’ve learned.
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Project-Based LearningEnd-of-module projects provide the opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned to a real-world situation that they would encounter in the workforce.
Formative and Summative Assessments
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Concept CheckEmbedded concept checks include a variety of low-stakes activities, including short answer responses, matching, flashcards, and sorting.
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Discussion-based ReflectionsThought-provoking discussion prompts invite students to process and share their learning with their peers. Utilize your LMS discussion board or have students work in an individual course journal.
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Short Answer AssignmentsShort answer assignments are included at the end of each module, providing an opportunity for students to analyze and apply their learning to a real-world situation. Students are supplied with a detailed assignment rubric, with clear expectations.
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Module QuizzesEach module concludes with a quiz, assessing student understanding. Quizzes are auto-scored and the results report back to the teacher’s gradebook in their LMS.
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Midterm ExamAssess student content mastery midway through the course.
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Final ExamA comprehensive final exam assesses student skills and knowledge at the end of the course. The final exam is auto-scored and the results report back to the teacher’s gradebook in their LMS.
Accessibility
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Text-to-SpeechAudio features allow greater accessibility for students. Highlight any text within the course to have it read out loud, including image alt text.
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Language TranslationsTranslate any text within the course, including video transcripts, into 60+ languages. Additionally, many language translations can be read out loud using the text-to-speech feature.
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Closed CaptioningAll videos within the course include closed captioning with the ability to access video transcripts and translate into 60+ languages.
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Alternative ActivitiesAlternative activities are embedded throughout lessons to meet accessibility standards and provide alternatives to the interactive activities in multiple choice format.
Explore Architectural Design I content to promote learning
Course Preview
Get a sneak peek into the Architectural Design I course, featuring key learning highlights.
Digital Tour
Experience the engaging instructional design and learn about system integrations.
Seamless access on Savvas Realize
Simple. Seamless. Scalable.
Focus on student success—not the tech setup—with flexible curriculum for virtual or blended learning ready to go in your school’s learning management system.
Additional Architectural Design I Resources
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Blended Learning
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Pacing Guide
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Answer Keys
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Syllabus
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Personalized Career Exploration
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Training
Blended Learning Guide
- Step-by-step teaching support for each lesson
- In-class discussion prompts
- Suggestions for independent, small group, and whole class instruction
- Facilitation support and student work samples for projects
- Sample student responses for reflections and short answer assignments
Pacing Guide
Provides a tool for teachers to appropriately assign coursework and allocate time on a weekly basis for completing a course within a semester or year long time frame.
Answer Keys
Includes answers and grading rubrics for Reflections and Short Answer Assignments, along with detailed grading rubrics and sample student work for Projects.
Course Syllabus
The syllabus includes a high-level course overview, module overviews, and module learning objectives.
Personalized Career Exploration
With access to trusted U.S. Department of Labor data, students can explore 1,000+ careers to discover jobs that fit who they are, what they enjoy, and where they want to go next.
On-Demand Training
An on-demand, self-paced teacher training course covers the fundamentals of implementing the curriculum.
Frequently asked questions about Architectural Design I
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What modules are covered in this course?
- Module 1: Basic Drafting
- Module 2: Design and Drawings Part I
- Module 3: Design and Drawings Part II
- Module 4: Design and Drawings Part III
- Module 5: Dimensioning and Annotation
- Module 6: Working Drawings
- Module 7: Pictorial Drawings and Surface Developments
- Module 8:Sequential Processes Part I
- Module 9: Sequential Processes Part II
- Module 10: Sequential Processes Part III
- Module 11: Sequential Processes Part IV
- Module 12: Sequential Processes Part V
- Module 13: Three-Dimensional Drawing Part I
- Module 14: Three-Dimensional Drawing Part II
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What grade levels is this text appropriate for?Grades 9–12
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What types of programs is this course designed for?This program is designed for CTE Architectural Design pathways or elective offerings.
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Does this course align to any industry certifications?Yes. When paired with Architectural Design II, this course prepares students for the Autodesk Certified User (ACU) in AutoCAD certification exam from Certiport®.
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Is this program available in print or digitally?Architectural Design I is a robust, digital-only course ideal for virtual or blended learning.
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What teacher resources are available?Teacher resources include the course syllabus, pacing guide, answer keys, blended learning guide, and digital courseware access. Additionally, an on-demand, self-paced teacher training course covers the fundamentals of implementing the curriculum.
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What Learning Management System (LMS) is this course accessible on?Digital courseware is delivered on the award-winning Savvas Realize platform, which can integrate with: Canvas, Google Classroom, Schoology, AGILIX Buzz, and D2L.
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What are the digital license options?Student digital access to Architectural Design I can be purchased for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years.
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How long does it take to complete the course?Architectural Design I is designed to support a full-credit course and therefore may be used to support a semester- or year-long option. On average, this course requires 80 instructional seat-time hours, equating to roughly 3–4 lessons per week. Teachers can make course customizations if desired to meet specific needs.
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Are there any required materials for this course?Yes. Due to the hands-on nature of Architectural Design I, AutoCAD software is required for students.