Digital Strategies for Inclusion and Well-being of At-Risk Teens

Description

Adolescents who face social, cultural, or emotional challenges often struggle with academic engagement, belonging, and well-being, both in school and online.

Many “at-risk teens” experience school absenteeism, digital vulnerability, conflict within family and home, or discrimination.

As a result of the prevalence of these issues among these vulnerable groups, these teens are likely to suffer from low engagement, possible lack of parental support, risky online behaviors, and discrimination, among other issues.

This makes them harder to reach through traditional educational or social channels. Yet, when education professionals and social workers collaborate and use digital tools and platforms strategically, these vulnerable young people can find new pathways to inclusion, learning, and care (at school and in their communities).

This course brings together teachers and social workers to explore how digital collaboration and coaching strategies can support marginalized teens.

Participants will analyze online spaces for their advantages and disadvantages, and as brainstorming tools to encourage teen participation.

They will learn to use digital case management tools to design interventions and presentations for collaborative action, and a collaborative in-course project will allow participants to apply in practice what they will have learnt into an action plan or activity.

Each participant will receive and provide peer feedback, applying coaching principles and reflective practice throughout the process.

By the end of the course week, participants will gain a clear understanding of how digital tools can facilitate inclusion and wellbeing, and they will be able to apply their newly acquired coaching skills straightaway, either in the classroom or in a community setting.

They will have acquired the skills to engage learners collaboratively with other professionals in the process of creating digital pathways to inclusion and wellbeing.

Concept by Esme Garza

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Explain the concept of teen wellbeing, inclusion, and digital literacy, and how they are interconnected in various contexts;
• Examine the challenges faced by marginalized and at-risk teens in real-world contexts;
• Apply inclusive strategies in classrooms and community settings to encourage and support participation;
• Integrate digital tools to enhance learning, communication, and collaboration among professionals and learners;
• Recognize and address the risks and opportunities of digital environments for vulnerable youth;
• Design and implement collaborative digital action plans that promote inclusion and well-being;
• Use digital case management tools to strengthen inter-professional collaboration between teachers, social workers, and other stakeholders;
• Co-create a digitally supported activity that promotes inclusion and wellbeing;
• Evaluate and adapt digital and collaborative practices to improve inclusion and long-term impact in participants’ own professional contexts.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to the course

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools;
• The role of digital tools in supporting inclusion and wellbeing;
• Group Discussion: shared challenges in supporting at-risk teens across school and community contexts.

Day 2 – Supporting teens in digital spaces

• Overview of key digital skills for supporting youth inclusion;
• Analyzing online spaces: risks, opportunities and ethics;
• Using digital tools to encourage participation (Mentimeter, Padlet, Canva, Habitica).

Day 3 – Inclusive strategies and practical tools

• Understanding marginalization and participation barriers for at-risk teens;
• Ensuring digital accessibility: classroom and community-based digital practices for inclusion;
• Workshop: adapting communication styles for different learners and environments.

Day 4 – Collaborative action and best practices

• Designing approaches for collaborative action between teachers, social workers, and community organisations;
• Digital case management tools and professional communication strategies,
• Workshop: co-designing a collaborative digital strategy (intervention, presentation, or awareness campaign).

Day 5 – Collaborative project

• Workshop: finalising and presenting the collaborative digital projects;
• Peer feedback: evaluating and refining designed activities;
• Self-reflection and revision of the designed activity;
• Final presentation and shared takeaways.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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