Samueli Academy Virtualizes CAD Software for Student Chromebooks

Samueli Academy, a public charter high school in California, has implemented virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) technology to let students access computer-aided design (CAD) software from their Chromebooks.

The school is operated by the Orangewood Foundation, an organization that provides services for youth in foster care, and the school serves both foster and community youth. Samueli Academy has a 1-to-1 technology initiative providing every student with a Chromebook and an instructional philosophy that emphasizes technology and project-based learning. The school also partners with the University of California Irvine (UCI) to offer engineering and design pathways aligned with the school's curriculum.

In 2016, the school launched a course to teach students how to use SolidWorks 3D CAD design software. Since the software can't be installed on Chromebooks, the school partnered with Zumasys — a provider of cloud computing and application infrastructure — to implement a Citrix-based VDI platform. The Orangewood Foundation has had a four-year relationship with Zumasys through Zumasys' Happyness is a Choice corporate giving program, and the VDI implementation extends that relationship to the school's technology program.

The Citrix VDI platform runs on a cache-accelerated storage tier from Nimble Storage. The SolidWorks 3D CAD design software runs on the server, and students can access it remotely through their Chromebooks. "Students enjoy great SolidWorks performance on their Chromebooks thanks to Nimble's cache-accelerated storage tier," stated a news release from  Zumasys.

"Nimble Storage and Zumasys were able to understand our requirements and build a solution to best meet our needs," said Philip Thai, director of IT for the Orangewood Foundation, in a prepared statement. "For an environment of our size, there's nothing like the performance that Nimble Storage provides in the same price range."

Based on the success of the VDI implementation, the school plans to extend its virtual desktop infrastructure to 100 students in its engineering, design and Photoshop classes.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • digital learning resources including a document, video tutorial, quiz checklist, pie chart, and AI cloud icon

    Quizizz Rebrands as Wayground, Announces New AI Features

    Learning platform Quizizz has become Wayground, in a rebranding meant to reflect "the platform's evolution from a quiz tool into a more versatile supplemental learning platform that's supported by AI," according to a news announcement.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Survey: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    A recent Intel-commissioned report identifies a significant shift in AI adoption, moving away from the cloud and closer to the user. Businesses are increasingly turning to the specialized hardware of AI PCs, the survey found, recognizing their potential not just for productivity gains, but for revolutionizing IT efficiency, fortifying data security, and delivering a compelling return on investment by bringing AI capabilities directly to the edge.

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.