Teaching SketchUp (as a source of income)
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Have any of you taught SketchUp in a college-level or adult education environment?
I live within 15 miles of both a community college and a vocational school, neither of which offers any type of training in simple computer modeling, and I've been thinking about putting together a syllabus and proposing a basic-to-intermediate-level course in SketchUp to them.
Just wondering if anyone has done this, and if so, what was your experience?
Is it even worthwhile? There are so many on-line resources to learn SU that I'm wondering if anyone would pay money to take a class to learn it.
Would I need permission from Trimble to teach SketchUp?
I think that I could put together a really nice program....I've taught classes in blue-print reading, statistical process control, and other subjects as part of my former job in Quality Assurance and found it to be a lot of fun. I love SU and it would be great to introduce it to more people (and make a little pocket money at the same time)!
Seems like this topic should have come up before but I can't seem to find much in my searching...
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I'm wondering who needs a teacher for learning SketchUp? Maybe teacher for the process of designing space with SU as a tool.
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@srx said:
I'm wondering who needs a teacher for learning SketchUp? Maybe teacher for the process of designing space with SU as a tool.
Even as a tool there is still plenty to teach. If you go around an architecture firm there are some people who make really effective and flexible models quickly, and others who spend much more effort making poorly constructed models. Outside of techniques there is also learning the level of abstraction appropriate for different use cases, and also how the model should be presented.
David
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@srx: I teach Sketchup at a local makerspace and coach independent designers as well. Some people just do not have the patience to sit down and watch video tutorials - they would much rather watch somebody else in person and ask questions. Further, they think their particular needs are not addressed in online tutorials, or may not be internet-savvy.
@Rick: I've not taught at college level, just some intro to SU classes mentioned above. I think it may be helpful to teach a particular use of Sketchup...say Sketchup for architectural rendering, or Sketchup for Woodworking. Interest and attendance was high for free classes...for-pay classes not as much, understandably. One of my friends suggested that I teach at a community college, but I haven't pursued that...am interested though!
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I am thinking in do the same, here in my community there is a Museum that uses to do some courses and teachings in many fields, one of them in Design, I am proposing to teach how you can animate in 3D a logo, that involves learn to manipulate 2D graphic design to transfer into the 3D world, modeling, manipulating and after that rendering with the chance to get a nice 3D animation.
I am agree that SU can be teach in person to anyone involved in Design.
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If it had been readily available I would have enjoyed at least a day of training. I had too many "DOH!" moments to say my experience was anything but inefficient. That said SCF filled a lot of that gap.
( As far as SW training, I've only trained on AutoCAD which I never used, and I've taught PowerCADD to Arch firms myself.) -
I have recently started using Sketchup again, and I think there could be a market for teaching techniques and tool usage, perhaps even 1:1 over the internet.
For instance, I often use the automatic red/blue/green lines unintentionally (instead of something really close to 90 degrees), and this ends up ruining positioning and wasting a lot of time -- then when I realize the mistake, I have to re-do a large bit of the model. If I knew what the best technique for this was, this would save me time (and money).
Essentially someone looking over my shoulder (virtually) as I make a model and making course-corrections on the best technique could be something that's really useful.
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I teach SketchUp in the local community education program and I also do one-on-one instruction. I wouldn't consider either one a great source of income but I enjoy doing it. I think the one-on-one is easier because the instruction can be easily tailored or customized to the student's level, learning style and so on.
I've never found a way to get a class of students who start from the same point and it never fails that I either have a few students who are exploring on ahead or ones who seem to get left behind. I dislike having any lagging so I wind up giving them extra attention after or outside of class.
I have taught several classes in which all of the students had at least some experience with SketchUp and I let them kind of direct the class by asking questions and having conversations about using the program. Those have always been fun.
I do the one-on-one stuff both face to face and online and those sessions are always cool.
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Hi,
From personal experience I see lots of people forgetting what you explained to them simply because they don't practice it enough so that knowledge becomes muscle memory if that makes sense. An advice for this is to make handouts with simple to understand step by step instructions so that they learn it again by themselves. This brings me to what I consider the most important point and that is teach them how they can do research for themselves and ask questions on forums such as this so that they can teach themselves eventually.
Cheers!
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Hi Unigami!
I've been teaching a SketchUp for Architects/Students since 2008 at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA, and am in discussions with Cal Poly Pomona at the moment.
I'd say my overall experience has been absolutely incredible. For me, it's been great helping students and Architects go from being able to get by in the program to being proficient. Most of the videos out there teach a lot of basics, but I find it's the real nitty gritty stuff that ends up helping the most. This of course, depends on the student. Some people like those details, some couldn't care less.
I will say this: If you're in it for the money, there's better ways to go. Freelance model building/rendering pays much better if you can find the right clients, at least in my experience. It is, however, pretty satisfying to teach. It's also a great networking opportunity. I've gotten in touch with more Orange County Architects through teaching than I ever did through school or work.
I haven't needed permission from Trimble to teach SketchUp yet,and I don't expect to. I would think the only area to get into trouble is if you're touted as being a "Certified/Authorized Training Center" through Google/Trimble (or however that works now). I wanted to do that, but the cost is rather high for one person.
Let me know if you have any more questions. I'd be happy to discuss it further with you
Matt
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I have taught SU at a Local college as a side gig and I really enjoyed it. I had to quit due to time restraints. money-wise it wasn't worth it, but it was loads of fun and very satisfying. I wouldn't look to it for income-making --but if you just want a pay-it-forward kind of experience. . .it's great.
My students often got better than me after about . . .oh. ..20 minutes.
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