SketchUp

** Google SketchUp **
Creating new ideas and concepts based on scientific knowledge is one of the important outcomes of STEM education. STEM is an applied area where the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math merge. Google SketchUp enables students to create STEM-related products by providing a venue in which they can "test out" their ideas and visually conceptualize what their designs will look like in 3D.

For instance, one essential question can be "What does your perfect garden look like?" In Google SketchUp, students can plan what their garden would look like. They could create different renderings of what the garden will look like at various phases of the growth cycle. This way they can see what the garden would like like initially,in 5 years, and at full maturity. They could sketch in shadows and so on. They can change their design based on important factors (data points) that are necessary for their plant types and garden needs. Students are able to precisely plot out their garden and determine the best location for different plants.

To learn more about Google SketchUp see: [] The base package for Google SketchUp is a **//free.//** Google has an entire suite of free software available in Google Apps []. Many schools use these apps, not only because they are free, but because they also allow collaboration. Collaboration is a key part of STEM education because through collaboration students are afforded a richer, deeper learning experience.

Please see the Google SketchUp gallery to see many images that were produced using SketchUp. []