Sheet metal pattern-making is a highly conceptual, hands-on process; one that demands spatial imagination and visual thinking. Yet most student resources remain text-based, leaving a gap for learners who need to see a process to truly understand it.

Camosun College trades instructor Brian Coey set out to change that with his open education textbook, Pattern Development, designed for sheet metal and metal fabrication students. As he put it:

“Pattern development, or layout, is a very conceptual, hands-on process, and requires the ability to imagine. Unfortunately, most, if not all, student resources are text-based, which doesn’t lend itself to such a creative process. I therefore decided to make a more interactive book, full of videos and digital animations.”
— Brian Coey, Sheet Metal & Metal Fabrication Program Lead and Instructor (as cited from Camosun College Showcase Magazine)

Funded by the Open Education Sustainability Grant from BCcampus, the project supports the development of open educational resources to make post-secondary education in British Columbia more accessible and affordable for students.

Over three months, 200 custom animations were designed and developed to accompany Brian’s written instructions; each one bringing the geometry of pattern-making to life through bright, complementary colours and subtle motion. Where the more complex patterns called for it, 3D modelling was added for greater clarity. The results have been well received, contributing to higher pass rates among sheet metal and metal fabrication students.