Week 4: Google Sketch-up Evaluation

It has come to my attention that there are many intricacies in Google SketchUp that will require much more exploration. Here are some tricky areas I must master before I introduce this to students:

1. Sketching rectangles is harder than it sounds. When using a track pad instead of a mouse, I found that I had uneven walls which would not be ideal on a real-world construction site. I would make sure that students would have a mouse at all times when using Google SketchUp.

2. In the third picture on the left, you will notice a chair being scaled into a bench. Sounds like a great math lesson right? Well the scale function in Google SketchUp is tricky to work with. I honestly still haven't gotten it right. When I plugged in the measurements to double the seat, I doubled the size of the whole chair. I need to keep playing. :)

3. You can get carried away with color. There is an option to change the color of walls/objects. I have a feeling that students would go color crazy and not focus on the task at hand.

4. I will have to do some major schmoozing to get my IT guy to download this software onto 25 computers. It is a small file and doesn't take long to install, but I have found that software requests are not received well in my district. I know that I could have students during class time but that would not be the best use of time.

Overall, I am happy with Google SketchUp. It has the ability to make math concepts like area and perimeter much more meaningful and visual. It also has the ability to give math teachers a clear visual of an x, y, z graph and allow students to play with that concept.

Yet another RAVE from Jessica Goodenow!

Week 4: Google Sketch-up Exploration

Starting out, Google SketchUp gives you options of the template you would like to use. Thinking about this as it corresponds to my AR project, I would have students pick either feet/inches or meters since that is what we use in class. As you move down through the templates, there are more complex templates that would be suited for professionals...not students.

Once inside the software, I used the rectangle button on the tool bar to draw up some basic walls and floors around my avatar. What sets this apart from other pieces of graphing software is the reality of the building. By clicking on some other buttons on the tool bar you can measure and orbit around the figure you just created.

That is all the exploring I have done for now. Stay tuned for more adventure in Google SketchUp!

Week 4: Google Sketch-up Intro

As part of our final project in ETC, I have found some software that will be valuable to use in conjunction with my AR Project. It is called Google SketchUp. Google SketchUp can create, modify, and share 3D models.

This software has 2 downloads--one that gives you 8 hours of free use with more features or a second that is free with less bells and whistles. For the purposes I would use this for, I downloaded the free version and it took all of 1 minute to get it onto my computer.

When browsing through the features, I found that this software would be beneficial in my classroom because it uses functions of math (area, perimeter, volume, graphing) to build models. You start out with a basic x, y, z graph. Using the tabs on the top of the screen, students can build the blueprints for their object. As their object becomes more complex, they can change colors, zoom in and out, and change directions to focus on the front, side or back of an object. After their template is saved, students can come back to their object and continue to edit and make it more complex.

I am excited to play with this software more. Be watching out for my next installment on Google SketchUp!

BP11_OMM 2

This is a commercial over Bubbl.us, an interactive mind mapping website, that every teacher should have in their arsenal! Enjoy!

BP10_Comment to Brooke

Follow this link to see my comment on Brooke's commercial over GoAnimate.

BP9_Comment to Greg

Follow this link to my comment on Greg's post over Carrotsticks.com

BP8_Bubbl.us

Oh, the discoveries!

Thanks to some navigating, I found a new web 2.0 site that could be used frequently in any classroom. It's called Bubbl.us (leave out the "e"). This website is self explanatory from it's name. You can create mind maps, using

"bubbles," on any particular topic you deem necessary. A sign-in name is not required, but is helpful is you want to save your brainstorming.

A fun part of this website is the ability to change colors and move the bubbles around. Notice, I made a quick mind map on some of the new technologies we are using in ETC.

Something that sets this website apart from other mind mapping software is its ability to collaborate, have friends, and share documents with other users. Since I just found this website, I don't have any friends to show you this feature. In a classroom setting, students would be able to share their mind maps easily with each other and with the teacher. That would make the need to print no longer a need.

I use mind maps frequently and I am very excited to incorporate "bubbl" into my classroom.

Another RAVE from Jessica Goodenow!!!

BP7_OMM 1

This is my exciting commercial on why everyone should use Game Classroom in their classroom and homes. Enjoy!!

BP6_Comment to Catherine

Follow this link to see my comment on Catherine's blog.

BP5_Comment to Crystal

Follow this link to see my comment on Crystal's blog.

BP4_Web2.0

Are you ready for this?

I have found another great tool that can be integrated into the classroom! It's called GoAnimate. The purpose of this site is to make cartoons customized to the maker. Each user must create their own sign-in name and avatar. There are certain features that cost money (better outfits, facial hair, etc).

Once you have signed in and created your avatar, you will be directed to the next screen below.

This is where the magic happens. Students would be able to implement animations, story lines, change the background, add music, record audio, and use the 3 characters on the left side of the screen. Once they are happy with their scene, they can watch their cartoon and share it using the import function underneath the image of the bedroom or the save button on the top right hand side of the screen.

One function that you cannot see in the pictures that is valuable for a Web 2.0 tool is the chat ability. As students are working, they can chat with buddies that they add. I could see this being a good asset to a group project. If a group is working on a cartoon together, one student can be focused on a scene while another can focus on another scene and then they can save them together.

Just another RAVE from Jessica Goodenow!

Can't wait to try this with my students!

BP3_Web2.0

Hey all you fellow education junkies!

I can't stop RAVING about this educational website I just found!!

I had the privilege of exploring the GameClassroom website. It is a site that caters to students from age 5-12. Depending upon the age group you are looking for, the site will give you educational games to improve their skills, homework help, links to step-by-step topical problem solving, and much much more! I am excited about the option of using this website in the future and have a short tutorial on one of my favorite parts below.

GameClassroom is a new bookmark in my exploding folder of great educational sites. You should add it to yours!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Jess

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots

Home Tab

AR/CLB Tab

FSO Tab

ETC Tab

BP1_GoogleReader

I am following 5 different sites in my iGoogle Reader. Here is a description on some interesting sites I have found:




MAKE Magazine
feed://blog.makezine.com/index.xml
• This publication drew me in right away when I saw the engineering aspects that it connects to real life. I could see myself using these snippets as part of a 5minutes journaling activity. I would ask students to write some sentances on math aspects they see in the photo or article. Students would enjoy this RSS feed because it is graphic—the pictures are phenomenal and draw yo in.

Pixdaus: Popular Today Pics
http://feeds.feedburner.com/PizdausPopularTodayPics
• I always have been attracted to art and it’s uses in education. Fine arts integration into the “core” classroom enhance learning and this site would do just that. Pixadus displays photographs that range from the beautiful to the disturbing. I would use this feed to have small group discussions or even print the photos for bulliten boards in my classroom.

Technology News—CNET News
feed://news.cnet.com/2547-1_3-0-20.xml
• Students are excited about technology as much if not more than adults are. This feed gives short snippets and links on new technology and software outside of the computer world (aeronautics, automobiles, communication, etc). I would use this site in Current Events to map trends in the way technology is moving away from and towards.

The Big Picture
feed://feeds.boston.com/boston/bigpicture/index
• Yet another photo website! Do you see a trend here? This site posts amazing photos attached to current news articles. The articles are brief. I could see myself using this an activity to get students’ views on what happened next or creative writing on their opinion of the news article.

WebUrbanist
http://feeds.feedburner.com/weburbanist
• I love to see the way marketing has shifted from the late 50s till now. This site would fun to integrate into a project. I could see myself using the adds for students to make “old school” advertisements on math concepts or travel brochures for Latin American countries.

iGoogle screenshot

This is a screenshot of my iGoogle page to show that I have enabled iGoogle reader.