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Wednesday, April 9, 2003 Kids become virtual home builders National association provides educational CD-ROM gameMiddle school teachers now have a new educational tool that supplements core classroom lessons and engages students by using gaming technology to present real-life, home building challenges, thanks to the National Association of Home Builders. Building Homes of Our Own, now in its second printing, is a CD-ROM simulation game that uses the familiar activity of home building to tie academic concepts and principles to real-world activities-all in a fun game environment. The program is part of the ongoing educational outreach initiative of NAHB and in response to the impact computers are having on classroom instruction and the way children learn. In designing Building Homes of Our Own, the association wanted to provide a program that takes advantage of new technologies, while providing a hands-on classroom tool that spans core subjects including math, science, social studies and English. "This is a great educational product, and it's also really fun to play," agreed Sandy Boda, executive officer for the Home Builders Association of Midwest Georgia, which serves home builders in Fayette, Coweta, Spalding, Meriwether, Heard, Pike, Upson, and Lamar counties. More information about the group can be obtained by calling the association office at 770-716-7109. The game was developed from the ground up to create an educational experience that also delivers the level of quality kids are accustomed to in a game environment. Developer Media Options worked closely with an advisory panel of educators from across the country and home building industry leaders from NAHB's membership to develop the game. Building Homes of Our Own challenges students to work against a schedule and within a budget to design and build a 3D home, starting with selection of a site and ending with the sale of their home. In the process, students rely on core classroom subjects such as math, science, social studies and English as they work to collect information, solve problems and make decisions. When their house is completed, students review credit applications and sell their "virtual dream house" to a qualified buyer. The Building Homes of Our Own CD-ROM games and a comprehensive, printable Teacher's Guide is available free to educators. The Teacher's Guide provides additional activities, exercises and projects for single classrooms, integrative learning and even distance learning applications. Also built into the CD-ROM is a 22-minute tutorial that introduces teacher and students to the classroom tool. The program already has the support of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. In the first six weeks that the game was available, 323,225 kids, 18,470 teachers, and 387,870 parents either played or were exposed to the game in the classroom and throuugh homework assignments. Building Homes of Our Own is partially funded by the NAHB National Housing Endowment, Freddie Mac and the Fannie Mae Foundation. Educators can learn more about how the program can integrate into their classrooms and can order a copy of the CD-ROM at www.HomesOfOurOwn.org. The CD is complimentary to teachers and NAHB members.
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