Unit 7 is broken up into four sections.
- Unit 7A - Learned about View Templates and Object Style.  The nice thing about View Templates is that they can be edited to incorporate different visibility parameters and can then be applied to any view.  This can be useful if you want to create both a floor plan and furniture plan.  Object Styles, on the other hand, change visibility settings globally (in all views).  In this exercise, I learned how to create and assign subcategories, along with overriding individual objects.  The last section covered view filters.
- Unit 7B - Introduces Groups.  In this exercise, I learned how to create, edit, add an object to, and duplicate a group using a simple office layout.  I then applied a group type to a different group and added annotation detail groups (see image to right).  This was a great exercise that will be really useful in creating furniture layouts.  I also finally learned how to insert furniture!  (through the components tool)
- Unit 7C - In this exercise I further explored groups and how to convert them into links.  I took the string of offices on the first floor and made them into one group.  Then I converted the group into a link and copied/pasted the offices into the second floor (see image, bottom left).  I also learned that if you edit the original link, the project file where the links are located change to reflect the edits.
- Unit 7D - Explores Dependent Annotation views.  I learned how to create dependent views by duplicating levels as "dependent."  This exercise was used to show how to create two sheets with two parts of a single view (see image, bottom left).  This comes in handy when the full floor plan prints too small on one sheet to read annotations. 
 
Unit 6 focuses on using Levels, Reference Planes, and Grids as design constraints within a project.  The exercises allowed me to experiment with locking walls and structural columns to grid lines.  I was then able to see how moving the grid lines effects the elements locked to them.  In addition, I created an arced roof using a reference plane (image on left).  These core concepts are extremely beneficial if you want to maintain an underlying structure to a project.  Using these types of design constraints makes it easy to manipulate multiple objects with one edit.
The last portion of the exercise briefly introduced how to create, edit, an apply view templates. 
 
Picture
section with shadow
Picture
Sun study time lapse
Picture
Sheet with multiple views
The reading spoke a lot about 'Views' and their properties (such as detail level and underlay).  There are five sub-exercises within Unit 5.  
- Exercise 5A explored more with section views and detail callouts.  I also learned how to create a sheet with multiple views and how to add shadows to a view (see pictures).
- In Exercise 5B, I duplicated the roof type in order to create a new type.  Then I assigned different materials to the layer components of the roof.  It's becoming easier to maneuver the type properties.  Finally I learned the difference between a model pattern (which fits to the model) and a drafting pattern (that changes according to the scale of the model).
- Exercise 5C was about wall cleanup and display.  I used the 'visibility/graphics overrides menu' to change the thickness and color of walls and wall components, both globally and within a specific view.  I also learned how to change wall joints.  While this exercise seemed very architectural based, it is very useful to know where the edits are located and how they operate.
- Exercise 5D, was a bit tricky due to the fact that the sun settings, tools and windows have changed since the workbook was written.  Took some searching but finally figured out sun and shadow options are located under the graphic display options.  I really like that you can replicate sun movement for different cities and times of the year.  This is a very useful tool and one I will continue to use.  The exercise showed how to export the sun study to an AVI file  (screen shot below). 
- Finally Exercise 5E showed me how to import a model created in Revit to 3ds Max.  While this was a great introduction, I am thankful AutoDesk also has a curriculum focused on just 3ds Max visualization.  I plan to work more with 3ds Max in the future.
 
Unit 4 focused a lot on editing parameters, specifically the difference between editing type parameters and instance parameters.  I am becoming more comfortable with loading families, adding objects, and changing types.  This unit also covered dimensions and how to create an explicit relationship, which I did between a door and the adjacent wall.  I also changed the window inset (a type parameter) of two case windows on the 2nd level and then the sill height (an instant parameter) of one of the windows.
 
Unit 3 focused on the differences between 'Families' and 'Types' along with how to edit/modify 'Families.'  Through the readings and the exercise I am starting to see Revit demands much more technical knowledge to create a successful project than CAD does.  There are a lot more things you can 'fake' in CAD that in Revit require detailed examination and explanation.  Revit forces you to think and design in a more professional manner.The exercise also taught me how to create a wall sweep and reveal, along with splitting the exterior wall to create a new wall component.  The purpose of this was to learn how to modify a wall that belongs to a system family.  I then learned how to modify and save a window type that is part of an external (or hosted) family. 
 
Moved onto Unit 2 today.  The exercise walked me through morphing the last home into this two-story building with an upper deck area and a curtain wall.  I am learning more how to navigate through the toolbars as well as how to use the sketch interface.  Also learned how to make section elevations today!  
It has been hard to not resort to typing CAD commands, but I have enjoyed exploring the different tools and properties.  There is so much this program can do it is hard to not be slightly overwhelmed at first.
 
I have begun working through the Autodesk Revit BIM Lectures and Student Workbook.  Thus far, the readings and exercises have been very helpful in understanding the differences between CAD and Revit along with explaining some of the basic commands found in Revit.  I just completed Unit 1 where I created a small one-story house (see screenshot below).  So far, using Revit has been a lot of fun and I enjoy how easily all of the elements come together.  Definitely a breath of fresh air from CAD!