4 min.
After the experience in middle schools, next year, the Province of Como will involve high schools in the digital literacy programme for elders.
Cecilia Stajano has recorded “Super Coordinator” Luca Piergiovanni on the success of Grandparents on the Internet. Luca Piergiovanni found out about the project in Rome and exported it to Lombardy thanks to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and the Como Province School Department.
Attilio Selva attended the course in two small towns: Ossuccio and Tremezzo. The tutors - school children in the second and third year of middle school – were trained through ad hoc courses. The result was in nearly magical didactic environment created by an intense “social atmosphere”. Strategic elements of the course include: responsibility and knowledge.
“They asked us to learn to use the Regional Service Charter,” explains Vice-Principal Fiorella Mionti, the course coordinator in Montano Lucino and Villaguardia. “Another fact that astonished us and that we immediately reported was the fact that many fourty-year-olds applied for the course." Clearly, in gap in training needs that must not be overlooked.
Roberta Bernasconi, in middle school teacher, has coordinated four courses in Uggiate Trevano and Olgiate Comasco, which means keeping an eye on fifty 7th grade tutors and just as many elders. In the audio clip, Roberta explains the choices she made in the organisation of the course, as well as in few surprises such as discovering the chaotic and disruptive students actually turned out to be patient, educated and respectful, indispensible qualities for tutors.
School administrator Maria Serratore from the Istituto Comprensivo Inverigo, who has already initiated various programmes with local elderly associations, explains why her school decided to promote in digital literacy project, coordinated by teachers Paolo Luppino and Donatella Testi. “The key is to discuss concrete activities.” Students are proud about their school’s courses: proof of the importance of continuous learning.
So how does it feel when one’s elder becomes independent? Cecilia Stajano asks 14-year-old Sara. “Accomplished!” she replies without hesitating.
Giuseppina Ciapparelli, Project Coordinator at the Istituto Comprensivo di Binago, with 24 elder students, draws in first balance of the course and points out the difficulties that were encountered.
Ana Lain used Skype to reach Filomena Santimone, Project Coordinator at the "L.V. Rufo" School in Alzate Brianza. The course was attended by 15 elders: 12 grandfathers and 2 grandmothers, attended by just as many tutors. “I am very proud of my students," explains Ms. Santimone. “Most of them sacrificed their own free time …” The initiative was also followed by the town government and the Mayor met the students and elders.
Carla Rossi is one of the course coordinators at the "F. Turati" Middle School in Canzo, where 18 elders attended the course with the support of 18 tutors from different classes.
Monica Valsecchi explains the didactic value of the project for students; Stefano (13) explains how he faced the challenge of tutoring.
In Cantù, school administrator Vincenzo Iaia helped the students to understand the value of the project methodology.
Olgiate Comascois between Como and Varese. Here, 13 elders followed the lessons under the supervision of Teacher Vittoria Torre.
And there also are the voices of the many tutors … Filippo, Andrea, Alberto, Cristina, Erika etc.
14 schools in the Province of Como (Lombardy) experimented with the Grandparents on the Internet Project for the 2010-11 school year:
- S.M.S. "G.B.Grassi" in Uggiate Trevano - Teachers: Roberta Bernasconi
- I.C. "Inverigo" in Inverigo - Teachers: Donatella Testi & Paolo Luppino
- I.C. "Della Tremezzina" in Tremezzo & Ossuccio - Teachers: Attilio Selva & Stefania Flain
- I.C. "Valmorea" in Valmorea - Teachers: Lidia Giordani & Catia Botta
- S.M.S. "F. Turati" in Canzo - Teachers: Monica Valsecchi & Carla Rossi
- I.C. "Binago" in Binago - Teachers: Giuseppina Ciapparelli
- S.M.S "Montano Lucino" in Montano Lucino - Teachers: Fiorella Mionti
- S.M.S. "Sant'Elia" in Villaguardia - Teachers: Fiorella Mionti
- S.M.S."Don Carlo Baj" in Arosio - Teachers: Alessandro Giordano
- I.C. di Carimate - Teachers: Luigi Manara
- S.M.S. "L.V. Rufo" in Alzate Brianza - Teachers: Filomena Santimone
- S.M.S. "M. Buonarroti" in Olgiate Comasco - Teachers: Vittoria Torre & Roberta Bernasconi
- I.C. "Cantù 3"in Cantù - Teachers/Dirigente: Vincenzo Iaia
