Build Little Knowledge with Build-A-Lot

Submitted 8 years ago

Community Review for Build-a-lot

Laura F.
Laura F.
Assistant Principal
My Rating
Pedagogy
Supports

My Take

In an Internet filled with sims, the price tag for Build-A-Lot is a big turn-off. Granted for the price tag, you do get a product that can save progress, is stable and provides technical support. From an educator's perspective, a paid simulation will allow for some sort of report to be provided to the teacher, to help analyze gameplayer decisions. This is not a feature that is currently available in this game and a key element in progress monitoring and assessment. Another key element of the game is strategy, and from a teaching perspective, this is where the true learning lies. However, the inability to track and analysis these decisions is an important facet missing from a paid app.

How I Use It

This app was utilized on three devices in a small group. Students were competing against each other to raise the most money. The app is intuitive and took little instruction on the part of the instructor. Students played for approximately 30 minutes in casual mode and then reviewed their progress with each other, reporting on the final dollar amount earned. (Another mode includes the option to play to a certain goal, i.e. to a dollar amount or to build a certain style of home.) In reflecting with students, this app seems to align better with time management practice rather than budgeting skills.
Students felt that in fact the app and its gameplay didn't align well with units involving financial planning and/or budgeting. While they were entertained, they noted no significant increase in their understanding of financial literacy concepts.

More community reviews for Build-a-lot

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krista w.
krista w. Southwest High School Jacksonville, NC
February 2, 2019

This looks like it would be a very good tool for construction and interior design classes

the interactiveness of it appeals to students
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Kim R.
Kim R. Program Manager, Youth Entrepreneurship Higher Ed Generic Account Scottsdale, AZ
May 5, 2014

Building sim that requires students to manage resources.

This game is almost addicting, as you try to meet the building, income, and net worth goals before you run out of time. However, there is not enough "meat" in the game to make it a lesson on its own or to justify buying a full classroom set of games. If this game were an app and available for less than $2.00, it might work well as a supplementary game that students would be allowed to play in their free time. This game is more about the fun and less about learning. There are elements of learning because students must try and meet the goals within the set period of time, managing the resources they have available to them (money, land, material, existing homes), but not enough to say, “This is a very educational game!” If used in the classroom, the game is best for the average learner. The advanced 7-12 grade learner would likely become quickly bored with the game or move through it too quickly. Most 11-12 grade students will also find it below their interest level. Students who have special needs, are ELL, or have lower literacy levels would do best partnered with another student that is patient and will take the time to explain the goals to their partner. Overall, I would not recommend this unless you just have some money that you must spend on games for students to play in class. There are other better options available that are lost costly and provide more educational value. Just a note on the install. This program tries to get you to download a game toolbar and to make Yahoo! your default search engine. I told it no on all, yet when I went to uninstall the game, I still found the game tool bar hidden in my program folders and I had to remove it manually.
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