BUILD's FamBiz Makes Reimagining a Family
Business into an Entrepreneurship Adventure for Youth in Grades
7-12
SAN
FRANCISCO, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- BUILD.org, a national 25-year industry leader in youth
entrepreneurship education, has partnered with Comcast NBCUniversal
to announce the launch of "BUILD's FamBiz CEO Simulation Game."
Designed for students in grades 7-12, this educator-led, free, and
innovative entrepreneurship simulation game sparks engagement in
the classroom while introducing youth to the fundamental skills and
mindsets they need to lead in school and in life. By co-designing
FamBiz with teachers and students, BUILD strives to support
educators with dynamic offerings that boost student engagement and
learning.
"Unlocking the potential of education lies in harnessing the
power of gamification to ignite engagement and foster deeper
learning," says Principal Amen Rahh, CEO, Knowlej. "BUILD's
new entrepreneurial CEO simulation game, FamBiz, empowers educators
to integrate social-emotional learning into their classrooms. It's
exactly the kind of dynamic, youth-centered experience we need in
schools to boost engagement and bring learning to life."
FamBiz marks a significant departure from traditional
classroom learning, offering students an opportunity to take on the
role of a CEO and confront the challenge of revitalizing a
struggling family business and the community it serves. Through
this uniquely engaging and immersive educational experience,
students must navigate the delicate balance between community
impact, effective teamwork, and personal well-being while trying to
make a profit.
By blending the dynamic storytelling, decision-making, and fun
of gaming with experiential learning, FamBiz encourages students to
develop critical skills while fostering a passion for
entrepreneurial thinking. This initiative underscores BUILD's and
Comcast's shared commitment to achieving digital equity as a tool
to help us grow the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders and
changemakers.
"We're thrilled to unveil FamBiz, a simulation game that
transforms entrepreneurship into an adventure. It not only ignites
students' enthusiasm but also sparks the motivation to lead,
innovate, and succeed in school and in life. By partnering with
Comcast's Project UP, we are ensuring every young person in America
can develop digital skills and find pathways to economic mobility,"
said Thais Rezende, President and Interim CEO of
BUILD.org.
Comcast's grant to help BUILD create FamBiz is part of Project
UP, the company's $1 billion
initiative to connect people to the Internet and advance digital
equity and economic mobility through programs and community
partnerships that open doors for the next generation of innovators,
entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators across Comcast,
NBCUniversal, and Sky.
"We are so pleased to be a funding partner to BUILD in designing
and delivering FamBiz, an innovative learning solution that will
teach students important entrepreneurial and life skills,"
said Gwyneth Gaul,
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Philanthropy,
Comcast NBCUniversal. "Gamifying learning continues to be
essential in students' development, engagement and retention. By
making curriculums digital, fun and accessible, BUILD is meeting
students where they are."
Features and benefits of FamBiz:
- Engaging Learning for Students: FamBiz offers an
immersive experience for students in grades 7-12, propelling them
into the role of CEO of their own cookie company. They must make
critical decisions about team dynamics, product development,
marketing, consumer research, and community engagement that shape
their entrepreneurial journey.
- Enhanced Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Through a
choice-based simulation game, students develop problem-solving,
self-management, and grit, exploring their interests and strengths
while fostering a deeper understanding of well-being and
relationships.
- Interactive Decision-Making Scenarios: Engage students
with real-time choices, enhancing critical thinking and
decision-making skills crucial for entrepreneurial success in a
fun, low-risk environment.
- Growth Tracking and Entrepreneurial Mindset Development:
Gain insights into each student's performance, tailor feedback, and
develop personalized growth plans for their entrepreneurial
journey.
Educators are provided with a comprehensive toolkit, including
lesson plans, discussion guides, and assessment tools, to
seamlessly integrate FamBiz into existing curricula. The simulation
game, accessible through an online platform, requires only a
computer with internet access, facilitating ease of adoption for
educators and students alike.
BUILD.org and DonorsChoose also jointly launched an incentive
program for FamBiz with financial support from Comcast. The first
1,000 eligible educators to complete all requirements for FamBiz
will receive a $300 DonorsChoose gift
card to fund a project in their classroom or organization. To date,
FamBiz has had sign ups from over 1,000 educators in more than 700
schools and community-based organizations spanning 500 cities. Over
14,000 student FamBiz accounts have been created, with 7,000
students already completing the game and earning badges.
Educators can access FamBiz by visiting
https://build.org/fambiz/ and creating an account. The CEO
simulation game allows for flexible implementation, ranging from a
1-hour session to a week-long experience.
FamBiz will also be featured at the SXSW EDU, March 4-7, 2024.
Testimonials:
"FamBiz is a game-changer in education. My students are not just
learning business concepts; they're actively applying them in a
real-world simulation." - Teacher
"I never thought learning about entrepreneurship could be this
fun! FamBiz turned the classroom into a real business, and I got to
be the CEO." - Student
For more information or to start the journey with FamBiz, please
contact: partnerships@build.org.
Contact Info:
Brian Costanzo
BUILD.org
bcostanzo@build.org
K. Kim Atterbury
Comcast Corporation
k.kim_atterbury@comcast.com
About BUILD.org:
Founded in 1999, BUILD is a national
nonprofit organization whose mission is to use entrepreneurship to
ignite the power of youth from under-resourced communities to build
Career success, Entrepreneurial Mindsets, and Opportunity. BUILD
utilizes entrepreneurship education to elevate youth and propel
them to academic and career success while empowering them to become
the CEOs of their own lives. BUILD has trained over 1,500 educators
in over 1,000 cities across the US. Last year, BUILD reached 55,000
high school students via their digital design challenges and
in-school entrepreneurship programming. For more information, visit
www.build.org.
About Comcast Corporation:
Comcast Corporation
(Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the
connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and
experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of
customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class
broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business,
and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment,
sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo,
Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and
attractions to life through Universal Destinations &
Experiences.
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SOURCE BUILD.org