Google Sketchup

Google Sketchup

What it does?

-Draw 3D and/or 2D models of anything

-Allows users to visualize real life 3D structures

-Download 3D models of buildings and other standing structures off of Google Earth.

What is it useful for?

-Analyzing and visualizing 3D objects before creating them

-Student projects.

-Researching 3D structures.

-Can give students a better perspective of 3D objects

-Useful for students who have trouble drawing and picturing 3D objects on paper

How could it be used in the classroom?

-Tech teachers could show different viewpoints of a structure.

-Architecture and woodshop class would be able to use Sketchup for their structure plan, before actually getting to work.

-Art class could use the program for visualizing 3D drawings.

link to the website: http://sketchup.google.com/

Analysis

Pros:

-Very good for students who do not like to work with paper and pencil.

-General features are very easy to use.

-Takes very little memory as well as disk space to use.

-Free version has all the features a student might want.

-Improves creativity.

-Gives user a better perspective of 3D structures.

-Allows users to import structures from Google Earth to study them.

Cons:

-Have to download and install- not a web tool.

-More advanced features might be hard to use.

-Pro version costs $495.

-Only tech. and architecture classes would benefit from this program.

-Might be a distraction to kids as they might play around with other features that might be irrelevant to their assigned task.

Suggestions for Educational Users

Upon downloading and installing Google Sketchup, it is recommended to play around with it for a couple of days. This will get the user used to how the tools work and when to use them. I would personally recommend this program to anyone in architecture, woodshop or any art class. I believe this is a great program for making plans. Personally, I am terrible at drawing on paper, which is why Google Sketchup is the right thing for me. Make sure to check the "Push/pull" tool. That is the main tool that extends and makes everything 3D. 

Good luck :) It's a very simple program to use, once you get used to it.

Helpful Material

http://sketchup.google.com/training/videos/gsuge.html

^ That is a great website for tutorials from beginner to expert level. You can use that website to learn from professional Google Sketchup users.

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/search/label/Tips%20and%20Tricks

^ Use that website for cool tips and tricks. For example, try the Sofa Maker!

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/

^Use that website to keep up to date with what Sketchup can do and how it is used everywhere!