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Endowment Funds ‘Building Communities of Our Own’
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CDs of the successful teaching tool, "Building Homes of Our Own," are still available. The National Housing Endowment is helping fund the next generation of the educational game, the Web-based "Building Communities of Our Own."
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The National Housing Endowment and Fannie Mae have provided NAHB with a $70,000 grant to fund the development of “Building Communities of Our Own,” an Internet-based game for middle and high school students that builds on the success of NAHB’s award-winning “Building Homes of Our Own” CD-ROM-based program.
“Building Communities of Our Own,” the next generation of the popular and successful animated educational game, will use new Web-based technologies — including an artificial intelligence engine that provides a reality-based experience for users — to substantially increase educational outreach possibilities.
The Web-based teaching tool will educate students about the challenges of planning and developing a successful community, and build a framework that explains how many diverse interests can be managed to achieve balanced and cost-effective housing.
Its predecessor, “Building Homes of Our Own,” was launched in 2002 and teaches students about building a house by presenting students with a macro view of the entire home building process. Free to teachers, NAHB has distributed more than 47,000 copies of the educational game to teachers and schools across the country.
An estimated 4 million students, teachers and parents use the game, which has won national acclaim as an interdisciplinary teaching tool.
"Building Homes of Our Own" was created through the support of the endowment, the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters and Freddie Mac.
NAHB’s educational games create context for students, parents, regulators and legislators on how home builders and developers shape and build communities throughout America as well as provide members and HBAs with a cutting-edge resource for outreach to local schools.
‘Building Homes of Our Own’ CDs Still Available
“Building Homes of Our Own” is available upon request, free of charge, to educators and NAHB members. Copies can be ordered online by clicking here.
 NAHB is seeking additional funding from corporate sources for complete development and promotional activities for “Building Communities of Our Own.”
For more information about the endowment, visit the National Housing Endowment Web site at www.nationalhousingendowment.org.
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