Detailed Instructions can really improve student performances and in some cases it exceeds instructor expectations. I have been teaching residential design and drafting courses for a long time. I have tried many teaching styles and techniques to deliver the instructions on the foundation plan. However, I have found two teaching techniques that really work. This article focuses on these two techniques when applied to a ranch house with a basement and an attached garage. The teaching styles work best on first year architectural students, drawing on a board (also called manual drafting). 

I developed both teaching styles from my own experience. Both techniques helped my students to be more successful. The first having four parts and the second only one. The first teaching technique is listed below:

1. Objectives of the foundation plan.
2. Procedure- how to draw a foundation plan!
3. Design and Drafting Requirements.
4. Key Notes.

Objectives

In this section I compiled a list of the objectives, which are necessary to cover in the foundation lecture. These objectives are necessary because they show the students what to draw and how to show the necessary information used in the real world. First, I compiled a list of activities involved in the design and drafting of a foundation plan. Second, I would take time to explain to the students each and every objective from the list. Third, I go over the beam, column, and floor joist charts and make sure that the students understand how to read them and how to pick the appropriate beam(s), columns, and floor joist. Forth, I use transparencies during the lecture for more clarity. Fifth, I try to take my students on a field trip when possible to show them the different parts of the foundation. 

Procedure

Many first year architectural students do not have a lot of design and drafting experience. Therefore, they are not sure how to begin a drawing. The instructions in this section are the result of my real world work experience in design, drafting and interaction with contractors. Furthermore, these procedures show students how to start drawings smoothly. Moreover, without procedures to follow the students would make many more mistakes, which would lead to bad performances and grades. 

Design and Drafting Requirements

Design and drafting requirements follow the procedures section. It gives the students drawing information and instructions. This information includes material sizes, technical terms, and standard symbols, which are required on the drawings. Also, it shows the standard techniques used in illustrating different materials and symbols. For example, it gives instruction on how to illustrate a footing.

Key Notes

Key notes are a legal document and all contractors are required to follow them. If a contractor does not use the proper material(s) or follow the instruction(s) from the key notes he/she would be liable for any mistakes, which might result in legal issues. If key notes were not provided on the drawings then the contractors might use the cheapest materials and would not follow the standard construction practices. Furthermore, first year students don't have in depth knowledge about the materials, construction systems and practices. This list helps student save a lot of time, because being a first year student they don't haven't developed a habit of searching for proper construction materials. Also, many of them are struggling to draw and don't have practice or experience in designing or drafting.

Hard Copy of the Foundation Plan

The second technique that I use is to show my students a hard copy of the foundation plan. This plan is either drawn by me or by one of my best former students. The second technique helps the students see how the finished drawing should look. Additionally, many students have no experience in reading a blue print or have never seen a foundation drawing. If I show them one of my own drawings, I would make sure that the drawing covered all of the information discussed in the lecture. On the other hand, if I showed them one of my student's drawings, then I would make sure that all of the mistakes had been corrected on the foundation plan and I would make sure to indicate what he/she had done wrong.

Objective:

• To visualize a foundation plan as an imaginary cutting line just above the foundation wall.
• To visualize a foundation plan with a view showing the underground support of the building.
• To understand the important detailed information of a construction foundation plan.
• To introduce the tools used for graphic presentation of the design solutions.
• To understand the standard of designs and drafting.
• To understand and apply the minimum code requirements.
• To introduce standard drafting conventions and symbols used in architectural drawings.
• To initiate an understanding of the building construction principles.
• To understand the construction materials and sizes used in the foundation drawing, including the nominal and actual sizes of lumber.
• To understand footing in general and be able to design footing for normal soil by using the rule of thumb formula.
• To understand pad footing.
• To understand a foundation with a basement.
• To understand a slab on a grade.
• To understand the crawl space.
• To understand the foundation wall in general.
• To understand the foundation materials (i.e. block, pour concrete with different psi, stone, pressure treated wood, etc.)
• To understand the floor system (i.e. solid floor joist, wood "I" beam, floor truss, etc.).
• To understand the use of reinforcement and the sizes of reinforcement.
• To understand the use of drain tile around the footing. 
• To understand the different types of beams (i.e. "W", "S", solid wood, built up beam and etc.).
• To understand the beam pocket.
• To understand the pilasters and piers.
• To understand how to read the beam, column, and floor joist tables.
• To understand the live and dead loads.
• To understand basic beam calculations.
• To understand concrete, gravel, vapor barrier, and wire mesh as concrete floor materials.
• To understand the use of ledge.
• To understand the column as a vertical support and types of columns (i.e. steel and wood).
• To understand the different types of bridging used between the floor joists.
• To understand the code requirement for the vent.
• To understand the frost depth requirement.
• To understand the use of the sump pump.

Procedure:

• Layout horizontally 24" x 18" vellum sheet.
• Draw the outside perimeter of foundation and stair (i.e. layout line). (Note. Layout lines are drawn to establish the basic shape of the building to make sure the locations are appropriate). Layout lines are drawn very lightly.
• Outside perimeter of the foundation wall can be drawn by tracing the outside perimeter of the exterior walls and stairs from the floor plan.
• Draw the exterior wall. (Note. Draw exterior wall 10" inside the perimeter of exterior foundation plan)
• Draw the footing. (Note. Footings are indicated as hidden lines).
• Draw the window opening.
• Draw the beam(s).
• Draw the columns with pad footings.
• Draw the beam pockets.
• Draw the sump pump.
• Show the direction of the floor joist.
• Title the drawing and complete title block information and draw a very dark border
• Draw an up arrow on the stairs to indicate the stairs' direction (i.e. leading to the first floor).
• Write the keynotes. (Note. Indicate all of the materials used on the foundation plan).
• Darken everything. (Note. Make sure all of the information is correct, prior to darkening).

Design and Drafting Requirements:

A) Scale ¼" = 1'-0"

B) Write the title FOUNDATION PLAN. (Note. 3/16" high lettering).

C)  Write the scale- SCALE ¼" = 1'-0" (Note. 3/32" high lettering).

D) Draw a foundation wall 10" thick, if you are using pour concrete as a foundation material.

E) Draw the foundation wall 8" thick if you are using a standard block.

F) Draw the footing for the foundation wall.

G) Draw the basement windows. See the code requirement for the vent.

H) Draw the beam. (Note. The beam is illustrated as a centerline).

I) Draw the columns and the pad footings. (Note. The footing is illustrated as hidden lines).

J) Draw the beam pockets.

K) Label all of the materials.

L) Draw an arrow showing which way the floor joists are running.

M) Draw the ledge.

N) Draw the window symbol.

O) Draw the stairs.

Key Notes:

1. 4" ledge to sit on the garage floor
2. 4" concrete slab over 6" x 6" x 10/10 W.W.M., 6 millimeter vapor barrier, and 4" gravel
3. 4" concrete slab over 6-millimeter vapor barrier and 4" gravel
4. 24" x 24" x 12" concrete pad footing
5. 3 ½" diameter steel column
6. 6" x 6" x 8 ½" beam pocket with shim
7. W8x10
8. 2" x 10" floor joist @ 16" o.c.
9. Bridging (wood or metal)
10. Drain
11. Slope 1/8"/ft.
12. Unexcavated
13. Rough opening 16'-3"
14. Up

References

Putman, E .R., & Carlson, E.G. (1974). Architecture And Building Trades Dictionary.  (3^rd ed.). Illinois: American Technical Publishers, Inc. 

Spence, W. P., (1993). Architectural Working Drawings-Residential & Commercial  Buildings. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Wagner, W. H., & Smith, H. B. (1996). Modern Carpentry. Illinois: The Gooheart- Willcox Company, Inc.