This term my KS4 class has been creating dream homes using Google Sketchup.
It was a fantastic opportunity to develop skills in the area of ICT, geometry, d&t and spatial thinking. The kids loved it, and were all proud of what they had achieved. Best of all, several of the kids are using it at home – which is one of the major advantages to using free software.
We used the in built export features to produce fly-arounds. One is below – and you can see them all here.
Well done 4A!
I’ve been inspired by my experience of using Google Sketchup in my KS3 ASD classes this week. I’m very impressed with the ability of autistic children to grasp the concepts of 3D design and produce incredibly high quality work. There is a huge potential for this across the curriculum.
See the comparisons of work produced by ASD children using Sketchup and pen and paper (found here).
I’ve been looking at Google Sketchup with my KS3 ASD class, loosely based on this. I’ve been amazed at the speed at which the kids have picked it up. It’s been a fantastic way of learning about geometry.
Today we made dog kennels. At the end of the session one of my students made a flythrough. Impressive stuff! Especially considering that he has never used Sketchup before this term.
In September 2011 we are (hopefully) moving to a new site collocated with Woodside High School.
As part of preparing and engaging the students in what will be a major change we have been finding the site of the new school using Google Earth, importing the map into Google Sketchup and designing our dream schools on the site.
We had great fun with the tools, and the activities really engaged the kids in thinking about the upcoming changes. Google Sketchup works with Google Earth really well.
Have a look at some of their designs below, which are also posted on the Moselle ICT Gallery.
Inspired by Anthony Evans’ post I have been inspired to attempt teaching a short unit of work using Google Sketchup to my Key Stage 4 group of mixed ASD and GLD learners. I have adapted Anthony’s unit plan and the first lesson went down very well. The group are fairly difficult to engage, yet were completely absorbed in the work. We were amazed at the ease at which the kids got to grips with it (they seemed to find the concepts easier to understand than the me). I’m looking forward to teaching the rest of unit, not least to learn how to use this powerful tool myself.
We spent the first lesson playing around with some of the tools, and beginning designs for a doghouse. Have a look at some of the results from our first lesson on the Moselle ICT work gallery.
