Overview
You will expand upon what you learned in Introduction to SketchUp. Explore advanced techniques for optimizing models, improve efficiency, workflow and work with complicated forms.
In this SketchUp class, you will work with landscape tools in the Sandbox toolbar as well as working on a small architectural project.
This course is instructor-led by a working professional who uses SketchUp on a daily basis. The course curriculum is real-world, project-based. There is strong student engagement.
Learning Objectives
- Use more advanced SketchUp tools to create doors, walls, windows and to detail the interior of buildings.
- Create and edit new materials and add photo textures to SketchUp models from Google Earth.
- Create scenes, generate scene settings and animate those settings in SketchUp.
- Explore creating topography and exporting images and animations.
Prerequisites
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
- SketchUp 211 Course knowledge or general knowledge of the software basics and ability to develop basic preliminary design models.
- Competency in reading and writing English
- All course training is in English. That includes oral, written, media-based and other administrative communication.
COURSE POLICIES
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Free Access to the Software
While you are a student at VDCI, you will be provided free access to the software needed to participate in your course. Throughout your studies at VDCI, it is very important that you have access to good-quality Internet bandwidth with a download speed of 10 Mbps.
Materials
Software (Required)
- SketchUp Make
Textbook
- No textbook required.
Can I work at my own pace?
Yes. You can work at your own pace. Each course is 18 days long. You will have two weeks and three weekends to complete the course. There are set deliverable schedules which are addressed in the course syllabus.
Downloads
- Syllabus (PDF/200KB)
- Career Options (PDF/200KB)

Syllabus
Free Access to the Software
While you are a student at VDCI, you will be provided free access to the software needed to participate in your course. The software provided will either be downloaded directly onto your machine or you will access the software on one of our Virtual Servers. Throughout your studies at VDCI, it is very important that you have access to good-quality Internet bandwidth. It is also very important, if you are accessing our Virtual Servers, that you pay special attention to the MP4 and PDF guidance provided regarding saving your project files (datasets) onto your local machine.
Discussion Forums
There are two discussion forums for the course, the Student Forum and the Graded Forum.
The Student Forum is for you to interact with your fellow classmates, to discuss issues you are having, and get to know one other much like you would in a classroom environment.
The Graded Discussion Forum requires an initial post and a response to another student. These will be part of your final grade. The first discussion post is due on the first Monday of the course cycle at 11:59 PM (PST). Your second discussion post must be a response to another student, and it is due by the end of the course.
VDCI Student Lounge
The VDCI Student Lounge is open to all VDCI Students and Alumni. In the Student Lounge, you are welcome to ask general questions to your VDCI colleagues. Instructors and VDCI staff regularly chime in. This is a great center of engagement for our VDCI community.
Course Lessons
Students will receive a detailed syllabus once they are enrolled in the course.
Lesson 1 - Equivalent of Four (4) On-Site Clock Hours
Students work with the Sandbox tools to create 3d topography for a community park. Students will also Geo Locate their models and add shadows and fog.
Lesson 2 - Equivalent of Four (4) On-Site Clock Hours
Students build 3D topography from contours that were originally built in AutoCAD. Students will create and edit materials. Also, students will stamp the architectural elements on the topography, and drape site plan geometry onto the topography. Students create components and edit the component options. Students create scenes using the navigation tools, and create a small animation.
Lesson 3 - Equivalent of Four (4) On-Site Clock Hours
Students learn about importing, creating walls, door and window openings. Students learn about building door and window components, downloading components from the 3D Warehouse, editing components.
Lesson 4 - Equivalent of Four (4) On-Site Clock Hours
Students create a roof, work with components, bring in components from the 3D Warehouse, work with Dynamic Components, bring in Entourage, and work with sections, dimensions, and text to clarify part of the project.
Schedule
Online Course Start Dates
Please click here to see the online course schedule. Online courses begin every three weeks, on a Friday and are 18-days long.