Architectural Woodwork Institute expands online training program

Topics covered in this course are Introduction to Drafting Concepts, Exploring Architectural Drawings, Common Drafting Symbols, Exploring Submittal Drawings, Thinking Like an Engineer, Drawings to Material, and Why It Matters.

AWI Member Jeff Richard of Dovetail Wood & Metal, a millwork engineer and Technical Chair for the SkillsUSA Texas Cabinetmaking Contest, was instrumental in bringing this course to fruition.  

“[The] ’Drafting Concepts to Production’ serves as a quick engineering crash course for students and industry professionals,” said AWI CEO Doug Hague.”This new course is available for free to all AWI iS users and will continue to evolve from basic to more complex details going forward.”

AWI Industry Solutions (AWI iS)

The course expands AWI’s workforce training program, AWI Industry Solutions (AWI iS), which was launched in 2023 to  meet the needs of existing and novice woodworkers as well as students and others seeking careers in the woodwork industry. 

AWI iS is revolutionizing how woodworking skills are learned and credentials are earned, providing a focused, flexible solution that addresses the architectural woodwork industry’s workforce challenges head-on.  AWI iS boosts employee skill levels, reduces training costs; and has the potential to create tailored learning experiences. A new platform, Microsites, was recently launched for use by employers to manage their users within the AWI iS site, enroll their users into selected courses, and supplement iS with their own courses.

AWI Industry Solutions’ foundational “Principles of Woodworking” has a curriculum of 17 units that is live online with 61 professionally produced videos, interactive quizzes, a final exam, and awards an industry credential upon successful completion.  To date, AWI iS has 2023 users and has awarded 437 woodwork personnel with credentials for successful completion of the “Principles of Woodwork” course which is available in English and Spanish.