Google SketchUp

Across a number of classes I have been using Google SketchUp as modelling, drawing and animation (see here for animation) software. Although it does have a steep learning curve and some pretty fundamental shortcomings, it is a great entry level CAD drawing package and it is free.

There are a wide range of professional CAD software providors that produce scaled down versions for education purposes, however you generally need to purchase the professional version in order to get the use of the scaled down version. I use Pro Desktop with more senior students.

My current year 8 students are developing a sustainable house design, using SketchUp to produce an initial floorplan, before importing images from the 3D Warehouse to fill their home with appliances and features. Finally the students raise the walls of their house, use the paint feature to add texture and they are done. A 3D house.

I would certainly recommned completing the range of useful tutorials provided within the software. They make life much easier and students can also work through them on their own.

Some issues that I faced included:


* SketchUp has some minor issues that mean you have to make sure that you do everything in the right order. This sometimes means you need to delete what you just did in order to redo it in the right way.

* The move tool works in two ways, stretching your drawing when not exptected and requiring you to highlight all of an object in order to move it. If this object shares a line with another piece, then you are not able to move it without affecting the other object.

* Many of the tools have some interesting or strange ways of using them. Following the tutorials and with some practice, the package becomes easier and easier to use.

* The old versions are not compatable with new versions, for example, work done in previous years cannot be opened in the new, updated version for viewing this year.

Some positive aspects I discovered included:

* Firstly, it is free. This means it is great for one off projects and is easy to download and share.

* The rendering features are easy and effective. There are a wide range of paint options which can add a variety of textures, colours and effects to your designs.

* The animation feature is great. You can produce fly-throughs and a range of other features similar to Flash animations. A student initially figured this out and showed me; quite simple and effective.

* The ability to import and export images from and to Google Earth. This means that a house or landscape can be imported into a Google Earth image and presented as if it existed in that space.

* Simplicity. Many of the CAD programs I have used are very complicated and require plenty of training in order to produce a simple object. Google Sketchup enables you to draw a wide range of objects with relative simplicity.