>> Of Interest

Interactive Teaching Tool Provides Virtual Home Building
From NAHB

Middle and high school teachers now have an exciting educational tool to supplement classroom lessons and engage students in a virtual experience that reinforces basic skills such as math, science, social studies and language arts, while presenting problem-solving and decision-making challenges.

Building Homes of Our Own 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. Responding to the impact computers are having on classroom instruction and the way children learn, NAHB wanted to provide a program that takes advantage of new technologies.

CD-ROM Game Challenges Students
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, they will rely on core classroom subjects as they work in groups to collect information, solve problems and make decisions. When their home is completed, players review credit applications and sell their “virtual dream house” to a qualified buyer.

Teacher’s Guide Provides Additional Activities
The Building Homes of Our Own CD-ROM game 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 beginner-level orientation game that introduces teachers and students to the classroom tool.

Program Development and Funding
The game was built from the ground up to create an educational experience that 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. The program has gained the support of the National Association of Elementary School Principals.

Building Homes of Our Own is partially funded by the NAHB National Housing Endowment and Freddie Mac.

Educators can learn more about how the program can integrate into their classrooms and order a copy of the CD-ROM at www.HomesOfOurOwn.org. For more information, contact Kym Kilbourne at 800-368-5242 x8447.