Middle School Level. Students will learn to make things like footstools and magazine stands, and over the course of the year be taught the basics of how to design and then make things. Expect lots of rambling about styles of furniture and lots of ranting about IKEA.

For the final exam, students will be given three weeks to design and then completely build an object of their choosing (so long as it isn't painfully simple), like a chair or small bookshelf. They'll be graded on the final product's style, completeness, and on the planning work they did, which they will need to turn in with the finished result—sketches and plans, that kind of thing.

Preben cares a lot more about results than process, so as long as you get your projects done on time and do them properly, you're free to spend a class talking with friends instead of working. If you take the excuse to slack off and don't do your work, he will come down on you like the fist of an angry god. Students are allowed to work on their projects after class, but only when he's also in the classroom (due to the machinery/sharp objects around).

Middle/High School Level. This is the most traditional "class" Preben teaches, in a classroom with no building things. Students will be taught and tested on design basics—for example, identifying different shapes typical to one style or another—and be challenged to draw and design their own objects or small buildings. They will learn more construction and engineering basics compared to shop, and learn about different tools, construction styles, and so on: for example, solar energy vs. gas, steel reinforcement, drywall, etc.

For the final exam, students have a very long test reviewing everything/identifying styles of window/etc.

Again, Preben isn't a strict teacher and doesn't mind people slacking off a bit in class. On the other hand, if you fail to do your work, he'll be very unhappy and your right to slack off will be revoked. He will remember this. Classes will be run largely in a lecture format, and Preben is prone to tangents off topic and enthusiastically telling everyone about, say, examples of Scottish Baronial architecture in 19th century London.

HS Years 2/3 Only. This advanced level class will take Intro to Design and run with it, challenging students to not just learn about but actually attempt to plan and create buildings. Students will learn to blueprint and be graded on their attempts. After the basics are learned, they will be asked to make models of them, and be further graded on their ability to correct errors. Instead of weekly assignments, students will be pretty much encouraged to create something and stick with and refine it over months; creativity is encouraged, and so is persistence! Students will also be taught functionalism and advanced design, and be allowed to pick what they want to "build."

For the final exam, students will be assigned a style and building by Preben (for example, "design a Victorian-style home" or "make a small library in a Baroque style"), and given several weeks to create according to the contract/guidelines/opinions he gives, with him acting as the "customer." Final grade will be based both on the overall model/plan, and on their ability to work according to specifications, obey the customer, but also stick to what works (For example, standing up to him when he demands a swimming pool in the master bedroom).

This is a much more intensive class than his others, and so it's only open to older students… but if a younger one asks him, he'll probably let them sign up too. He's a pushover. There's still some slacking off allowed, but Preben has high standards for his students and hand in your work on time.