With the new 3D printers that are now less expensive and the emphasis on STEM skills, more and more schools are diving in to 3D software to allow students to design solutions to problems around them. TCEA has been granted the exclusive rights in the state of Texas to provide free licenses of SketchUp Pro to all K-12 public school educators and students. The 3D modeling software, normally $495 per license, is easy and intuitive, allowing anyone to model in 3D quickly and accurately. The software is an excellent tool even for those who do not yet have access to a 3D printer, empowering students to learn the critical engineering design process.
The free licenses are available in the following formats:
- Licenses for individual school lab networks (Windows and Macintosh). These licenses allow up to 300 simultaneous users on any given network.
- Licenses for imaging and installation on multiple laptops that need functionality both on and off of the school network (i.e. students with a laptop assigned to them).
- Licenses for stand-alone computers (Windows and Mac) for non-networked machines.
The license is good for one year and may be renewed each year after that. To receive a free license, complete this form. You will then be emailed information on how to download and install the software.
There is a nice introductory guide to SketchUp Pro in the classroom available here. The first activity included in it is for students to design a chair (shown to the right), which is a wonderful start. There is also an excellent Quick Reference Card available as well. Learn more about how to use this amazing and powerful software in a free-to-anyone webinar on Sept. 29.
