Interactive Learning for Emergency Shelters and Temporary Settlement Planning: A Hands-On Approach Using 3D Models and LEGO

Innovative STEM education is essential for equipping future professionals with the skills to tackle complex global challenges emerged from natural hazards. Effective planning for shelters and temporary settlements are critical aspects of sustainable post-disaster recovery. Over the past half-century, catastrophic disasters have shown that ad hoc solutions often expose affected populations to cascading risks, further compromising their well-being and dignity. There is an urgent need to prioritise - disaster-affected communities centered emergency shelters and temporary settlements.
This participatory workshop will share insights from pilot studies in the Northwest Indian Himalayas and Nepal on how interactive pedagogy with 3D models and LEGO has enhanced emergency responders' capacity to plan shelters and transitional housing. Developed in collaboration with local disaster management committees, armed police forces, and military personnel, this approach strengthens hands-on learning and decision-making for future disaster scenarios. It has also been integrated into classroom-based collaborative teaching in the Global Risk and Resilience Management module of Aston University’s MSc Project Management course, fostering interdisciplinary engagement and problem-solving skills.
As part of this session, participants will engage in a simulated crisis scenario, working in teams to plan for various emergency shelters and temporary settlement using these collaborative learning tools. This hands-on activity offers practical insights into STEM-based disaster risk reduction education, showcasing the effectiveness of problem-based learning in preparing students and professionals for real-world disaster response and recovery.