IN-PERSON: Learning. Life. Work

Abstract

In its 5th year of development, the collaboration between the International Rescue Committee and the University of Utah’s College of Architecture and Planning questions how refugees and other community members interact with the city. This collective, collaborative, and multi-threaded initiative integrates emerging technology along with social design to address the needs of refugees in the resettlement process. Specifically, the need for more innovative, digital inclusive learning spaces for Refugees and New Americans to facilitate engagement and exposure to emerging technology. This has included approaches to the gamification of public space in virtual reality (VR) to increase digital literacy and a sense of belonging to their new communities. For this presentation on the pedagogical approach, the collaborator leads (Milad Mozari and Krysti Nellermoe) will present on the mission, driven by the community, the braided river model in which collaborators contribute and are involved in their own capacity. Where their standard design research model is combined with clients’ voices as a way to deconstruct traditional design methods.