SketchUcation's Authorized Google SketchUp Training Center

[Gaieus]

Hi all,

I am really happy to announce that SketchUcation has finally become an "Authorized Training Center" (ATC) for Google SketchUp (and LayOut).

There are two kinds of trainings regarding "content":

• Trainings whose curricula is pre-defined by Google (this is the "ATC" part and we can issue certificates of completion)
• and advanced, custom trainings in various, specialized fields

There are three kinds of trainings regarding "venue" or "method":

• On-site, public trainings to be later announced here as well as on the Google SketchUp ATC site and to be held in SketchUcation's office in Ennis, Ireland
• On-site trainings pre-agreed and arranged by/for any 3rd party
• On-line trainings for individuals or very small groups of people via various internet based media (screen sharing applications and such)

We shall be sharing more details as we elaborate them.

[modelhead]

Congrats Gai! It is a bit funny in a way...you finally getting ATC status...the ATC ciriculum is based on your life story isn't it?

[mptak]

Congratulations! Ireland is proud. Hungary also I guess.

[Frederik]

Congrats, Csaba - and rest of the SCF team...

[Gaieus]

Thanks guys. You know, this is just a paper. There needs to be lots of work to put value behind it...

[utiler]

Well done you blokes...... you deserve any financial returns for your labours!

[rock1]

since sketchup is available as free I hope that these trainings are also available as free. talk about social service

[fionmacool]

Welcome to the ATC environment guys. We are happy to have more SkUnkies pushing the SU platform in Ireland!

And if you ever get more business than you can handle you know who to call

[rock1]

more SkUnkies pushing the SU platform in Ireland!

skunkies sounds really bad as a combination of sketchup junkie [skunk ]

[Gaieus]

since sketchup is available as free I hope that these trainings are also available as free. talk about social service

Well, it always looks good for a business to be social aware and show their interest in this field... However first they need to pay their own bills. I have unpaid bills from June - and soon it is August...

[mitcorb]

I would think that some fees are justifiable for the efforts. Maybe over time you can find what types of education can be "free", and what types would require fees from participants.

Just throwing this out, and maybe has some application to the above: the Continuing Education required in my profession is often done by manufacturers and suppliers who are certified education providers, who have structured a pre-approved generic session pertinent to the products, etc., that they promote. (They are not allowed to promote their brand during the presentation, and this is policed by designated observers who happen to be in the audience.(sort of like the airlines using anonymous sky marshals)).
Of course, you may already be thinking along these lines. Just thought this might help.

[Rich O Brien]

From my understanding your enquiring if we'll train other products like third party plugins or applications? Is that correct?

[Gaieus]

I would think that some fees are justifiable for the efforts. Maybe over time you can find what types of education can be "free", and what types would require fees from participants.

Well, I have been teaching SU (to kids) free and am also planning to do that in the future. Certainly you need to establish a living first and devote yourself to charity or similar stuff only then.

I also not fully understand your post about those branding stuff and such. Now a bunch of us are "certified educational providers" here as "Certified GSU Trainers" as well as SketchUcation is an "Authorized Training Center" (i.e. can release Google branded certifications of completion to trainees) but I cannot imagine this without mentioning Google for instance.

[mitcorb]

Hi, Gaieus:
Sorry for any confusion.
In my first sentence I was trying to justify and support the charging of fees where appropriate. And I am in full agreement with you regarding charitable efforts.
The other thought was maybe a little less realistic, but suggesting a source of financial support from advertisers of things related to Sketchup in the pursuit of education. This may not work at all. Just a suggestion.

[dale]

Well, I have been teaching SU (to kids) free and am also planning to do that in the future.

Gaieus
I have often wondered about this.
I was thinking of offering a free course to the school kids just to get them aware of the potential. As well there are some local builders who are really interested, but I have always hesitated because of official accreditation,(or lack there of), and therefore have always politely declined.
Are there any guidelines for things like this?

[jhonatanarrieta]

Hola soy nuevo aqui estoy trabajando en un proyecto de construccion y estoy en la aprte de diseño y modelado pero se muy poco de skectchup quisiera saber donde puedo encontrar tutoriales paso a paso o donde puedo hacer preguntas y si existe un sitio en español. gracias

[Gaieus]

Hi I'm new here I am working on a construction project and am in the design and modeling aprte but very little skectchup would like to know where I can find step by step tutorials or where I can ask questions and if there is a site in Spanish. thanks

Hi Jhonatan and welcome!

We have a Spanish subforum at the bottom of the forum index. I have added you to that usergroup so now you can post there.

[mandar1983]

Hello Gai,

congratulations, finally you become authorized person to educate SU.
It's good news for every one from the community as well. now we can learn SU in depth from you.

Kindly let me know the way you ppl have decided to teach.. will there be an online training sessions for the international members. and rest of the details as well.. look forward to hear from you soon..

also let me know are you planning to teach various 3rd party renderers as well along with SketchUp..karkeythea,Twilight ect..

Congrats once again...

[Gaieus]

Hi Mandar,

Note that this post is not about me as a "certified trainer" but SketchUcation as an "Authorized Training Center" which means there are more people in the "Team". Currently there are 5 of us with training certificates but this is growing later to cover more specialized fields (the Google "pre-defined" curriculum is general enough so that each of us can teach that).

As for "technically" how we shall do this: yes, we are also planning online training with screen sharing devices etc. While these may not sound to be as effective as face-to-face, "on-site" trainings, they obviously have some advantages.

Finally yes, we are also planning to incorporate 3rd party apps starting from simple plugins to other programs like renderers. You need to understand though that this field (rendering) is already much more dependent on the trainee's artistic talents than just explaining technical parameters. And certainly this also falls into the category where we plan to have specialized trainers not "just" Google certified ones.

[Panga]

Congratulations to all the sketchucation team !!

[rock1]

when will the training sessions start? will the users get pdf files [ebooks kinda] for lessons? What is the fees of these courses?

[Bryan K]

when will the training sessions start? will the users get pdf files [ebooks kinda] for lessons? What is the fees of these courses?

Good questions. I need to advanced my skills faster than just the self teaching I've been doing and would sincerely like to be a student of this group, which I consider some of the best in the world.

But of course, the devil is in the details.