The Online Computer & Technology Club is an online club meant to teach MECA students about CAD (Computer Aided-Design) and coding.

The club uses an app, FreeCAD, which is an app you can download on the computers given out by the school. The president of the club instructs students how to use features of CAD by directly teaching them in club meetings or recommending videos to watch on YouTube after meeting. CAD, or computer aided design is a program where you can design your own ideas of technology and even print those ideas out. The club hopes to help their members by building a portfolio and even entering a few tournaments. The leaders of the club go as follows; Matthew Tseng is the club president, Cassidy Leung is the secretary, Aidan Tatlonghari is the vice president, Angelina Martinez is the treasure, and Mr. Janadi is the teacher for the OC&T Club (Online Computer and Technology Club).

“Whilst practicing CAD, you can obtain an enhanced visual perspective in life while understanding why and how an object specifically works,” freshman Cassidy Leung said. “CAD also improves your innovation skills in which you have to critically think of how to improve your part or make it so your project can be efficiently implemented in real life.” CAD has very practical benefits in terms of job opportunities. The nature of CAD allows for more creation and new ideas in today’s technology based world. With this rise of new ideas, some people will need to know how to execute those ideas. This knowledge of CAD can lead to people creating more and more. For example, the club has had a project to create a handle, such as a milk carton handle. The knowledge gained from this club can help in a real, practical way, beyond entertainment.

“Although my plan was to create an engineer like club, I was ultimately narrowed to do CAD due to the unfortunate pandemic,” noted Cassidy Leung. With the pandemic keeping everyone at home for school, the club did have some limits imposed on it. However, just because it had limits, didn’t mean that there was nothing to do. In fact, the first few meetings were dedicated to teaching fundamental concepts of CAD. These concepts were then applied in the previously mentioned handle example.

“Once we are back in school, we do not have to focus all on CAD as being physically together opens up more opportunities for more subjects to teach,” stated Cassidy Leung. “If all is successful, we might be able to afford a 3d printer or even start on circuit boarding.” With a future at in person school looking hopeful and likely, this club will become even better once that happens. More opportunities will open up for the club. Teaching newcomers will become easier. With COVID-19 becoming combatted more effectively, that engineer-like club may become a reality, sooner rather than later.

The appeal of applying yourself to CAD is to see how you improve through attempting mastery, while also allowing yourself to better understand how objects work. Setting goals such as creating a working part is the reason why some people enjoy CAD so much.

Once you find yourself learning more and more about CAD, you have the opportunity to enter CAD tournaments. In CAD tournaments, competitors are given criteria to create a model. Depending on how well the model created follows the criteria, you may be judged poorly or excellently. With the career and personal benefits, the CAD club is a solid choice for those trying to succeed in the STEM field or try to improve themselves at something.