Sketchup

Programs like Google Sketchup provide a unique service in helping users quickly and easily create a three-dimensional representation of an object or image. Today was the first time I had used Google Sketchup., and within about 20 minutes of playing around, I had grasped most of its functions and the overall way in which the program worked. Such programs are particularly helpful because they can show data or images in a convincing and easy to understand way. For example, if I was in an architecture class, instead of trying to render a hand-drawn depiction or an oral description of a building, I could use Google Sketchup to show exactly what my architectural plans are. This type of depiction would clearly be much easier for an audience to understand and also far more convincing because of its close semblance to reality. In my initial Sketchup, I created a building and imported a car next to it.

This tool could also be helpful in research or teaching because it would allow people to experiment with real-world ideas in a virtual world where there is no risk of failure, In the virtual world, if something does not work out, you can simply retry at basically no real cost. For example, an design teacher could ask his students to submit a project proposal via Sketchup prior to actually creating the project. This way, if there is some deficiency with the proposal, it can be corrected virtually, thereby maximizing the probability of success when the real project is made. Another possible use of such a program is in literature. A teacher could ask her students to read a descriptive passage and then recreate the people and places described in Sketchup. This would engage the students and help them better understand the passages they are reading. This program also has practical applications in math courses since it provides exact measurements of the virtual buildings. Programs like Google Sketchup are unique and interesting, and they can have a tremendous impact in the classroom.