Human Requirements

Module 9: Shelter

It is expected that students will:

describe the interactions of technology and society in the development of alternative forms of shelter
describe the interactions of science and technology in shelter design
identify or describe technological advances in the service systems (e.g., heat, electricity, water, sewage) of a modern house
relate safety and building codes to the specific service systems and identify the technological changes in service systems from the past to the present
explain the concept of shelter and describe basic structural principles
describe the relationships among shelter design, population, and community planning

Have students do an on-line or library search about different forms of shelter used around the world, as well as in Canada. Have them present their findings in a class discussion.
Present students with the scientific principles underlying heat transfer and insulation, as well as current practices in home insulation and heating. Ask students to examine their home environments for insulating properties (e.g., type of wall insulation, windows). As follow-up, have students discuss their findings in small groups.
Have guest speakers (e.g., electrician, plumber, drywaller, architect, engineer) present technological advances in home service systems, as well as information on safety and building codes. Students can ask questions about the scientific basis for the codes.
Have pairs of students research alternative forms of housing and service systems, and then have them present their reports to the class.
Have students build scale models of shelters from cultures around the world and compare them in terms of technological advances, the different use of resources, and adaptation to climate and the local environment.
Have students analyse the construction of a house, identifying the materials used and the structural principles involved (e.g., tension, compression, shear, torsion).
Have students design a community plan focusing on the design and location of residences. The plan should be limited to a designated area.

Assess students' electronic searches about shelter for the number of searches included, and the variety of sources accessed.
Use a checklist to track students' involvement in discussions or questions of guest speakers to assess the relevance of students' remarks, the number of points they made, and their preparation for the event.
Use a short answer quiz to assess students' recall about home insulation.
Assess students' scale models, using a holistic rating scale, for features such as how the materials used relate to the local environment and culture, their durability, insulation from elements, and aesthetics.
Assess students' community plans for a variety of predetermined features, including the accommodation of a range of socio-economic levels, the inclusion of green space, aesthetics, transportation flow, waste management, etc.

Video

Revised: January 27, 1999