Designed with schools, for schools: new resource engages students to learn about natural hazards
From lava fudge to video games, there’s now a treasure trove of educational resources available to help teachers and parents engage school-aged children in learning about New Zealand’s natural hazards.
The NZ Natural Hazard Teaching Resources(external link) online hub, launched by the CRISiSLab(external link) at Massey’s Joint Centre for Disaster Research(external link) and funded by Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, was developed in partnership with three Bay of Plenty schools.
Professor Anna Brown, who co-led the research with Dr Marion Tan, says “we are very grateful to Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Koutu, Matatā Public School, and Pukeroa Oruawhata Rotorua Primary School for their involvement in this research, which helped ensure that the outputs were fit for purpose.”
The teaching resources covers three of New Zealand’s hazards – earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunami – as well as general preparedness information and are suited for students in primary through to secondary school.
“The resources respond to a range of interests and learning styles, from interactive experiments and preparedness activities to educational videos and video games.”
Alongside the practical teaching resources, the research team also published a framework(external link) for effectively delivering natural hazard and disaster preparedness education.
“One of the key things we learned is that grounding educational content in the local environment is really important for getting students interested.
“It’s also important to present the content in multiple ways to suit different learning styles, which is why the online
hub is useful for providing a bunch of resources for teachers to choose from.
Acknowledging that teachers face competing priorities and limited resources, Prof Brown adds: “Schools can play a vital role in building disaster resilience in their communities by empowering teachers with the right tools and aligning hazard education with local contexts.”
This project was funded through an NHC Biennial Grant, which is awarded to researchers leading projects that increase New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards.
NHC Public Education Manager Hamish Armstrong says, “Earthquakes, tsunami, floods, volcanoes and landslips are a reality for everyone living in New Zealand, so it’s important for young people to learn how to live alongside these natural forces.
“Beyond basic preparedness, we also need a growing pipeline of scientists to help us understand and prepare for the natural hazards we face, so if schools can spark an interest in these vital sciences, that’s a win for New Zealand.”
