Risk storylines and impact chains have emerged as powerful tools in disaster risk management to represent complex, multi-hazard dynamics and their cascading effects within socio-ecological systems. Risk storylines provide narrative-based representations of hazard evolution, impacts, and response actions, enabling the reconstruction of plausible event sequences and fostering interdisciplinary understanding (Shepherd et al., 2018). Impact chains complement this approach by offering structured, cause-effect models that explicitly link hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and impacts, thus supporting the systematisation and visualisation of complex risk drivers (Zebisch et al., 2022).

This contribution reframes these tools as digital visual and conceptual frameworks for educational change, highlighting their potential within technology-enhanced learning environments to bridge cognitive distances between diverse disciplines. By translating complex information into simple visual representations of interconnected elements, impact chains and storylines make it easier to understand systems characterized by interdependencies and uncertainty. They help structure and clarify relationships among different components, enabling learners to grasp how processes interact and evolve. For this reason, these tools are particularly valuable in supporting the comprehension of complex concepts, including the functioning and application of impact chains themselves.

Building on a participatory multi-risk framework, the study emphasises how these tools - through interactive platforms, virtual testbeds, and data-driven visualisation - can support more active and experiential learning processes. These tools foster the development of a shared lexicon across different backgrounds, facilitating knowledge transfer between research, decision-making, and educational ecosystems.

Beyond their analytical function, these digital environments also serve as training spaces, allowing users to explore scenarios and practice decision-making in non-emergency conditions (Marciano et al., 2024). This enables participants to test strategies, understand potential outcomes, and reflect on complex risk dynamics without real-world consequences. This process triggers a reflexivity effect, enhancing collective awareness of how integrated knowledge leads to more resilient practices. Overall, the study demonstrates how the digitalisation of risk assessment tools can enhance active learning and collective knowledge construction, supporting more effective collaboration in managing complex and interconnected risks.