Health & Wellbeing in Integrated Learning Communities

I’m often asked for innovative resources to engage young people in sustainable education, I think I’ve just stumbled on a real stonker of a resource. I’ve read with interest  my fellow bloggers posts on using emerging technologies, games and graphic novel type media, animoto and games. This ingenious creation provides a tool that probably caters for all learners.

WORLD WITHOUT OIL is an alternate reality gaming event, a serious game for the public good that takes multi-player games to the next level. World Without Oil concluded on June 1, 2007.  However you can still sign up as a Netizen Hero and to participate in “WWO Lives,” an ongoing blog about all matters WWO. There will definitely be current links to good in-game stories from the WWO Lives blog.

WWO invited players across the world to help simulate a global oil shock. Anyone could participate by contributing original online stories, created as though the oil shock were really happening. The game’s masters rank the participants (“players”) according to their contributions to our realistic portrayal of the oil shock. The game also places value on player-created communities, collaborative stories, and collective efforts. 

Each contribution helps the game arrive at a larger truth. No team of experts knows better than a given individual what effect an oil shock would have upon that individual’s life, or what action he or she will take to cope. Personal reactions to our simulated oil shock, placed in context with many other points of view, will help us all realize what’s at stake in our oil-fired culture.

Considering recent fuel price hikes and schools making an impressive effort to become Eco Schools and reduce their impact on the environment, this is a subject that is always current. On the WWO site there are lesson plans for teachers that can still be used, but I guess really the whole point is self-expression, being creative and active learning, the web more so than ever provides tools in which to do this.

The youtube clip below explains the whole concept. The feedback from young people is mighty impressive. I’m considering how the world would be different for me…..how would it be for you?

The Highland Council has launched a fantastic online resource for anyone wanting to know more about Gaelic, it has superb downloadable audio clips for phrases and special guidance for those who want to promote Gaelic in the classroom.

We’ve just been lucky to secure funding through NHS Highland to provide our Health and Wellbeing guidance for primary schools in Gaelic.  I’m happy to share with other Scottish authorities as soon as it’s printed. However, any documentation we produce always promotes Highland’s cultural identity by carrying translated headings and straplines, but having the funding to wholly translate our materials means we can serve our first Gaelic school, Bunsgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis, and Gaelic medium units across Highland with specific Health and Wellbeing resources.

A few words from the toolkit…

Gaelic is Scotland’s oldest spoken language and is associated with a rich and varied culture. At one time Gaelic was the main language of the nation, but since then it has been subject to periods of persecution and neglect. Remarkably, Gaelic has survived into the 21st century, more than 1500 years since it was first established in Scotland, and now strenuous efforts are being made to ensure that the language continues to be used for generations to come.

At the same time the language’s associated culture is experiencing a renewal of interest and the vibrancy that it currently enjoys will help shore up the fortunes of Gaelic itself. The Highland Council supports and encourages people to develop their Gaelic.

Browse through the toolkit to find lots of tools to help you learn Gaelic and use it in the classroom.

Math dhà-rireabh!