Health & Wellbeing in Integrated Learning Communities

In 2006 an innovative course emerged with the concept of developing the skills of Highland’s newest crop of future leaders.

As a participant on the course this site, in essence, is my e-portfolio, reservoir of narratives or learning journey as I strive to demonstrate the possibilities and pitfalls for health and wellbeing being promoted in cutting edge ICT.

We know that what works in health improvement for young people is that learning takes place through constructing knowledge, social interaction and contextual experiences. The same can be said for us, I’m hoping that by promoting this kind of participatory platform I can pilot a way for collaborative learning amongst all interested parties in Scotland.

I have three development projects to focus on, all of which are underpinned by using emerging social media and technologies.

• An online lifestyle survey for all P7, S2 and S4 pupils in Highland through development a whatareuupto.com site
• The development of seminars for parents/carers, pupils and staff focussing on being safe and healthy on the Internet
• Piloting edublogging for The Highland Council, Education, Culture & Sport service.

National Direction..

Ministerial aspirations in 2003 were that all schools would be ‘health promoting schools’ by 2007, something we achieved in Highland by December 2005. These aspirations have now been superseded and have become enshrined in policy and legislation as we move into the era of the new School Act, Curriculum for Excellence, Journey to Excellence, and HGIOS3/CLD2  – all of which illustrate how health and wellbeing is a major priority. The new HEAT Targets and Concordat also directs our work in NHS Boards and local authorities, in both sets of targets the main thrust being of course to create a healthier Scotland.

In Highland, numeracy, literacy and health and wellbeing are cross-cutting priorities in the development of the new curriculum for excellence, a curriculum I consider encompasses all partners across our learning communities both in the classroom and the environments outwith. Highland will be one of the 5 authorities piloting the new HWB outcomes.

Learning and Teaching Scotland are leading the way in ensuring Health Promoting Schools becomes core health and wellbeing, the Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit is now part of a new ‘health and wellbeing’ team headed up by Bill Boyd. This is something that has been mirrored here in Highland as our HPS accreditation scheme becomes part of core QA processes across Integrated Learning Communities. It’s a fast changing world - but one I wholeheartedly welcome in serving to improve the health of our young people.

I also just wanted to acknowledge Tony van der Kuyl here, he was one of the good guys who helped me get on board with social media. He was a true inspiration and his passing is a sad loss to the world.

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