Some colleagues teach you a skill; others change how you think about teaching it. As part of the SOLIDWORKS EDU team, I am fortunate to shine the spotlight on my colleague, mentor and friend, Fred Koehler, SOLIDWORKS Training Specialist since 1996. Fred has helped resellers, designers, engineers, educators and students learn SOLIDWORKS by doing what designers actually do: develop products.
With three decades of training materials used by the SOLIDWORKS community around the world, Fred may be one of the most widely reaching CAD educators in history.
Building SOLIDWORKS Essentials
Fred’s story with SOLIDWORKS training began with the “Essentials” class. Working with his manager, Dave Pancoast, Fred helped develop the SOLIDWORKS Essentials training manual, the foundation for learning the software.
Fred then taught the class to SOLIDWORKS Resellers, who in turn taught SOLIDWORKS customers.
Teaching through real products
What set Fred apart was his approach. Rather than walking resellers through one feature at a time, Fred taught engineering design with SOLIDWORKS through the creation of actual products.
Our resellers learn how features work together to solve a design problem, the way our customers will use the software on the job. Remember in 1990’s most design was 2D or on a drafting board.
Hundreds of resources
Over the years, Fred has created hundreds of documents and My SolidWorks videos, including the SOLIDWORKS Hands on Test Drive. Each one carries the same practical, project-minded approach into the hands of new users.
A champion for educators and students
Fred is a great supporter of educators and students. He regularly helps the SOLIDWORKS EDU team by producing curriculum and lessons, and most recently, SOLIDWORKS Practice Problems.
As a senior member of the training team, he is always there to help out his teammates.
The Art of Sketching
In his latest project, the Art of Sketching, (3DXID login required) Fred elevates a skill that every designer needs. Strong sketches are where good models begin, and Fred is still finding new ways to help people master that first step.
Instructor, mentor and friend
Fred’s story is also part of mine. When I first started teaching at Mass Bay Community College in the 90’s, I was fortunate to have Fred as my SOLIDWORKS Essentials instructor at the Concord, MA headquarters. He was supportive of my CAD program and of me.
When I joined the SOLIDWORKS EDU team over 21 years ago, Fred was there as a mentor and friend. Having worked at Computervision,Inc. he knew what skills students needed to land the best jobs, and that insight helped shape the SOLIDWORKS EDU program. Ironically, I worked in Tech Support/R&D for Computervision/Prime Computer at the same time – it’s a small CAD world.
Fred also introduced me to his son, Ryan, a mechanical engineering student at RPI. Later Ryan would become my engineering intern. Now Ryan is a senior industry process consultant helping educators and student around the world.
Thank you, Fred
Thank you, Fred, for three decades of teaching, curriculum, videos and friendship, and for sharing your passion for design with the SOLIDWORKS community. There is no better feeling as an educator than seeing the people you taught go on to teach others.
Design well. Marie