GeomeTricks sample pages and chapter details coming soon!
Why Use ModelMetricks and Geometricks with Your
Students?
These books are
FUN.
Computer time is many students' favorite part of the
day. But they won't stick with a project unless they're having fun.
The models in these books are fun to make - they are designs we've
seen kids invent on their own in school, and while they are working with
friends. What could be cooler than a house shaped like a rainbow, or
designing your own bedroom with framed posters of your favorite
singers?
These books TEACH
important concepts.
While your students are busy creating their
3D designs, they are absorbing many of the design concepts
taught to architects, mathematicians, engineers, and artists. Teachers report that SketchUp helps develop both analytical and
creative skills. (But you don't have to tell that to your
students.)
Students work
independently.
These books are great for self-learning. Each step of each
project is accompanied by a picture, plus a very detailed explanation of
what to do and why to do it. Your students can get started
immediately from Page 1, and within minutes have their first design. They
can work all the way through the book with as much (or as little) guidance as you want to give.
Students like
"bite-size" chunks.
These
books are not intimidating. ModelMetricks books range between 100 and
170 half-size pages; GeomeTricks books range between 40 and 100 pages. Each page has several pictures, and short, easy-to-follow instructions. A book
can easily share space with a computer on a desk, plus it will lie
nearly flat when open. And you can load up a backpack with several of
our books, without worrying about tipping the child over.
C o l o r is Cool.
SketchUp is colorful, and
so are our materials. Each step of each project has a
detailed, full-color, eye-catching picture of what your screen
should look like. Large, bright arrows are used to point out icons,
window options, and whatever else is important to notice in a
picture.
Progression builds skills and self-esteem.
ModelMetricks and GeomeTricks books are divided into series, which start out with the basics and work up to advanced projects. Working through a series of project books this way serves two
purposes. First, the books proceed in a logical order that builds up
the skill set in stages. Second, it gives students a great sense of
accomplishment when they complete one level and move on to the
next.
Review pages reinforce.
After
you work through 30 or 40 pages, it's easy to forget what you just
did. A little reminder helps immensely to reinforce what you've just
learned. At the end of each ModelMetricks chapter is a bullet-item list of every
new concept and tool introduced in that chapter.
Projects are appropriate for all ages.
Kids can start with the ModelMetricks Basics Series as soon as they can read and use a computer mouse. And once they've used SketchUp a bit, they can work through the harder ModelMetricks and GeomeTricks projects. This doesn't mean that a 15-year old will find our materials too "young." Older kids can master SketchUp using the same approach, they will just take their knowledge farther and faster. (Teachers love the books, too, even if they don't admit it to their students.)
Gender Equity -
Girls are included.
As a woman engineer, 3DVinci founder Bonnie Roskes holds gender equity close to her heart. These books are perfect for sparking your girls' interest in geometry, modeling,
and 3D design. When we see SketchUp in action in schools, the
girls are just as engaged as
the boys, and produce incredibly creative designs that reflect both
geometric accuracy as well as personal tastes. Our projects are all gender-neutral, and both boys and girls can easily
add their own touches to their
projects.
SketchUp paves
the way to more advanced skills.
SketchUp design skills lead to
a natural interest in more advanced topics, such as 3D
animation, geometry and higher-level math, physics, and robotics. In our
increasingly technological world, acquiring these skills early gives
kids enormous advantages in higher education and career
choices.
