SketchUp is a versatile 3D modelling software that allows people to construct and manipulate 3D objects. There are many educational opportunities that can be facilitated through the use of SketchUp, either through the use of their own resources and activities or ones designed by the teacher.
In the tutorial we were shown how SketchUp can be used to design a house which can then be constructed by a 3D printer. The demonstration made SketchUp seem a lot easier to use and it took a lot of experimentation to start effectively using it on my own. This is important to keep in mind as an educator as if you want to use a program like SketchUp you have to be familiar with it to ensure students are benefiting from its use.
An example of some 3D shapes that can be made easily with sketch up.
FOSTERING CREATIVITY:
The use of digital 3D models encourages students’ creative ideas to come to life as they can construct visual representations of their ideas. As this program is digital, students can easily fix ‘mistakes’ through the undo button which allows students to be more experimental and more likely to test new ideas (Vaidyanathan, 2012). This free experimentation leads to higher levels of problem solving and innovation, therefore fostering student creativity (Carmona-Medeiro, Antequera-Barroso & Domingo, 2021; Liveri, Xanthacou & Kaila, 2012). To further promote creativity, students are presented with opportunities to engage in design thinking using SketchUp by making justified predictions, constructing designs of their own, actively creating effective solutions and reflecting upon these (Koh, Chai, Wong & Hong, 2015). This could include transforming 2D shapes into 3D shapes and examining their properties or even using these shapes to design a house of their own.
PEDAGOGICAL ISSUES:
It is evident that SketchUp is a fantastic tool that can be used to foster creativity, but only when students are able to proficiently use it. If used, the teacher needs to allocate plenty of time so students can focus on the task at hand and participate in meaningful learning, not just learning how to use SketchUp. It may be difficult for younger primary students to navigate, so may be more beneficial for them as a demonstrative tool for the class to use together. For example, the teacher can ask students what they think will happen when a shape is manipulated in a particular way and then demonstrate it for the class.
Some of the shape manipulations that can be performed in SketchUp.
Overall, when students are confident in its use, SketchUp is a versatile educational tool that can be used in a range of ways to facilitate student learning and creativity through encouraging design thinking. I do believe students will find it engaging and fun to use.
REFERENCES:
Carmona-Medeiro, E., Antequera-Barroso, J. A., & Domingo, J. M. C. (2021). Future teachers' perception of the usefulness of SketchUp for understanding the space and geometry domain. Heliyon, 7(10), e08206.
Koh, J. H. L., Chai, C. S., Wong, B., & Hong, H. (2015). Design Thinking for Education:
Conceptions and Applications in Teaching and Learning. Springer
Liveri, A., Xanthacou, Y., & Kaila, M. (2012). The google sketch up software as a tool to promote creativity in education in Greece. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 69, 1110-1117.
Vaidyanathan, S. (2012). Fostering creativity and innovation through technology. Learning & Leading with Technology, 39(6), 24-27.
Hi Erin,
I really loved this blog post. I love how you included headings and split all the sections up, and I love the photos you included. I love the fact you included the website link for Sketchup, I think that was really smart as well as the fact you actually included a video, almost like tutorial on how to use Sketchup which is extremely helpful to readers who don't particularly know how to use it as it could become quite tricky. Love how many references you used and thought it was good you included in-text references as well. Overall really enjoyed reading your blog!
Shira Charif
Hi Erin,
You have a fabulous blog, it is easy to read while still being very informative. You have shown some great examples of what can be accomplished with SketchUp and its easy-to-use system. I believe it would have been useful to include another limitation of Sketch Up being the expense of 3D printing students' designs. Although I understand printing designs isn't necessary it would be very beneficial for students to have that hands-on experience and understanding this may be difficult for some schools is an important aspect to take into account. Overall, I was very impressed with your blog and I believe it really illustrates how SketchUp can foster creativity in the classroom.
Margot
Hi Erin, I really loved reading through your blog. SketchUp and design thinking are smoothly presented explaining how it can foster creativity among students. It is well-explained, highlighting the relationship between these two concepts and the benefits they offer. Also the use of images and videos adds to the appeal of the presentation. The limitations of this technology are also addressed, and potential solutions are suggested, making for a well-rounded discussion!
Yiwen Cui 11/04/2023
Hello Erin,
Fantastic blog post on Design Thinking! I really enjoyed reading through this blog as you have included a range of media such as images and videos which were really engaging. This really helped increase my understanding of how to use SketchUp to foster student creativity. You have provided a thorough explanation on how the tool can be used to foster student creativity which is great!
Although you have mentioned that SketchUP can be used for creating 3D shapes, I would have really appreciated to see explicit curriculum links to the NSW math syllabus as this is useful for teachers. I would have also liked t see your 3D sketch as a 3D product as this would have been…
Hi Erin,
Your explanation on design thinking was really through, I do think that sketch-up is an effective tool at all levels. But your explanation as to why it would be difficult for primary students to use is a something I agree upon. It can be a tool that is complex and I think that some students wouldn't have the accessibility to use sketch-up unless at school and I do think that a large amount of time would be necessary for primary students to effectively use this tool for education. I did find Sketch-up really engaging in designing things that are liked and do find it a effective tool in any key learning area, but I do think at a…