Google+Sketchup

=**Google Sketchup**= Sue Price

Google Sketchup is a free, 3D drawing and modeling tool. (Google Sketchup Pro 7 is available for commercial use.) While this tool is fun to use, the benefits come from the creativity, problem-solving, and higher-level thinking that students exhibit when using Google Sketchup. There are many tutorials that demonstrate and explain how to create 3D objects using basic tools within Sketchup.

**Resource Links for Google Sketchup Tutorials** []
 * · Google Sketchup Download: []
 * · Google 3D Warehouse; a collection of video tutorials of how to make a variety of 3D objects:


 * · Google Sketchup Training videos: Videos for beginner, intermediate, and advanced users of Sketchup: []


 * · Google Sketchup 7 for Dummies; this website is still being developed but there are videos that describe how to create various 3D objects: []


 * · Additional resources including interactive troubleshooter: []


 * · Google resources associated with Google Sketchup such as Google Earth and Building Maker on the home page: []

One challenge in using this tool is for students to learn how to use all the tools available to create 3D objects. For some students it may be overwhelming so it is important to introduce a few tools at a time. Most students tend to learn Sketchup quickly but they should be given at least one class period to experiment with all the tools.

Google Sketchup is a great tool to use with the Mathematics curriculum to allow students to apply the math concepts they have learned. I experimented with using Sketchup as a follow up to a math lesson on area and perimeter with 7th graders. The educational objective of the lesson was for students to use their problem-solving skills to create a model of an outside deck that covered an area of 400 square feet. Students were given one class period to watch the basic tools and basic shapes tutorials and to experiment with the basic tools. After a brief review of area and perimeter at the beginning of the second class period, students designed a deck in Sketchup.

Most students were not familiar with Sketchup but were excited to try it. The first class period they were sharing their ideas for 3D objects and assisting each other with learning how to use the various tools: orbit tool, zoom tool, panning, and the push/pull. During the second class period students created their outside decks. A few students had trouble manipulating the tools to create their decks but most had fun and were very creative.

As a result of this Sketchup class experiment, I would definitely recommend using Sketchup. Though there are many more complex concepts and structures that can be made in Sketchup, students were able to use their problem-solving skills combined with their creativity to create some very interesting //decks//. It also promoted collaboration between students as they helped each other to create the shapes they wanted to include in their decks and as they calculated the area of the deck. I would recommend working in partners for students who may have trouble with spatial conceptualization.