CRANBERRY TWP — A new class at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School is gaining traction in its first year of instruction.

The Intro to Computer Aided Design and Drafting class aims to teach students the basics of designing and drafting, as well as inspire future engineers.

“We look at computer applications as a way to facilitate the design process,” said David Yackuboskey, class teacher. “We look at CAD (computer aided design) as a tool to increase the precision, efficiency and communication in the design process. It’s gaining some steam.”

The class uses 2-D and 3-D design software, such as Autodesk, to help design products and applications.

The first semester’s class toured with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Careers in December, visiting Michael Baker International, Robert Morris University and Cadnetics to learn more about design and drafting with computers, as well as manufacturing.

“Industries are being exponentially transformed by digital technology,” said Ellen Cavanaugh, CEO of Sewickley-based Grow a Generation, in a news release. “Traditional blueprints are outdated thanks to the impact CADD (computer aided design and drafting) has had in the industries of architecture and construction management. This experience, in combination with a passionate teacher who wants to apply what they’ve learned in future offerings in the classroom, and project-based opportunities for the students, prepares a new generation for the 21st-century jobs we can only imagine.”

Grow a Generation is a resource agency that aids schools in their STEM projects.

Twenty students were enrolled for both semesters total, 10 in each.

Yackuboskey said the class is “in a state of flux,” and next year could see changes in what the class works on.

The class could help with those participating in the school’s robotics team next year through an elective course.

One project students have been doing includes working on a design for a fabrication laboratory in the school building that could be used as a classroom. North Catholic does not have such a lab at this time.

“That’s the main project right now,” Yackuboskey said. “For a lot of our projects, we try to have the students engage in not only creating something with computer software, but engage in the design process as well.”