The tenth edition of the Global Junior Challenge came to an end with the awards ceremony. This year, the GJC was dedicated to projects that brought together innovation and high-quality education with inclusion, actively involving families and the entire educational community. Five awards were presented in as many categories, in addition to the Tullio De Mauro awards to the most innovating teacher and school administrator. The ceremony opened with a video-message from Giorgio Parisi, Nobel Prize for Physics.
Awards were presented this morning in the “Aula Giulio Cesare” to the finalists of the 10th edition of the Global Junior Challenge, the international competition that selects the most innovative projects that employ new technology for education and youth training. In 2021, the initiative, which is organised every two years by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and dedicated to Linguist Tullio De Mauro, focused on the promotion of experiences that made use of the inclusive nature of new technology for quality education during the health emergency, Objective 4 of the Agenda 2030 declined to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
The winners of the Global Junior Challenge 2021, who received a bronze medal of Rome, are:
- The Challenge of S.O.S.TENIBILITÀ - IC Taverna - Montalto Uffugo (Cosenza) for the “Education Up to 10 Years Old” Category
Fact sheets, e-books, photo contests and videoclips to raise ecological awareness amongst students and adults and drive a more responsible and respectful attitude to the environment. The project was selected for its ability to create strong social connections amongst families in the area, during the health emergency, and for its multidisciplinary and multimedia approach to accompany core subjects with civic and global citizenship competences. This is a project that will continue to grow with a vertical garden patch and a botanic garden in the school grounds already planned.
- A Train to Europe - IC Arnolfo di Cambio - Colle Val d'Elsa (Siena) “Education Up to 15 Years Old” Category
Project “A Train to Europe” allowed children to enjoy a field trip during a school year during which they were forbidden. Laura Maffei understood how to envisage a school that could overcome the physical distancing barriers in place during the lockdown and allow students to engage in social activities through the creative use of collaborative digital tools. The project was a powerful antidote to isolation and a tool that successfully transmitted the values of sharing, participation and active citizenship.
- Double Desk Trib[ut]e - IIS via Roma 298 - Guidonia (Rome) “Education Up to 18 Years Old” Category
The old school desks that had to be replaced to enforce distancing measures were used to create an open-air installation developed in collaboration by current and former students. From icons of the pre-Covid school, the old desks became a tool to narrate, with the use of digital devices, new ways of holding courses during the health emergency. They represented an alternative classroom allowing for the creation of new interdisciplinary connections and markedly inclusive creative processes with a particular focus on students with special needs, as well as the learning needs of individual students.
- On the Road with Radio Magica - Fondazione Radio Magica Onlus “Education Up to 29 Years Old” Category
A great proposal to promote local tourism focusing on the historical, artistic and architectural value of the Aquileia UNESCO site. The project successfully adapted to the emergency by hosting on-line school visits based on modern technology, 3D reconstruction and gamification. The award was presented for the marked inclusive nature of the experience, which was also custom-tailored for specific linguistic, cognitive, sensorial/motor difficulties, as well as its scalability.
- Electronic Skin - ITI Ferraris – Naples for “Youth Insertion into the Working World”
A glove, designed and programmed by a team of young female students coordinated by Prof. Agata Aurilio, conceived to help women to self-diagnose breast cancer. A prototype that although not yet patented clearly reveals the potential of technology for concrete needs, such as oncological prevention during the health emergency. The award was presented not only on account of the advanced technological content of the project, but also for the ability of the school to share values addressing solidary and responsible citizenship.
The award was presented by Alfonso Molina, Scientific Director, Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
The Special Tullio De Mauro Award, founded to drive the professor’s civil commitment and promote the role of innovating teachers and school administrators, was assigned to Luca Scalzullo, Professor of Technology at IC Rita Levi Montalcini in Salerno and Salvatore Lentini, School Administrator, IC Daniele Spada in Sovere (Bergamo). The awards, provided by the Centro Studi Erickson, GJC partner, were presented by Silvana Ferreri De Mauro.
Motivation for the Innovative Teacher Award Presented to Luca Scalzullo
Creativity, critical spirit, sociability, empathy: students are place at the centre of a holistic learning process in which knowledge and understanding, of oneself and others, are equally addressed to drive personal, collective and community growth. Using video lessons that could be enjoyed on a smartphone, a website with lessons and notes, a Telegram channel on science and meetings on Meet to study or view the landing of the Perseverance Rover on Mars, Prof. Scalzullo faced teaching during the emergency with resilience, readiness and creativity, guaranteeing, albeit remotely, a didactic and social continuity to parents and students, leaving no one behind.
Motivation for the Innovative School Administrator Award Presented to Salvatore Lentini
An open school without desks and backpacks, organised in learning environments and founded on the principles of community, hospitality, responsibility and self-evaluation. A vision transformed into reality thanks to the determination and far-sighted approach of
Salvatore Lentini and his team of teachers. At their school in the Province of Bergamo, they understood how to invest on a model of active didactic activities based on research, technological innovation and collaborative discovery. The dynamic nature, continuous experimentation and inclusive approach not only drove student wellbeing at school, also attracting students from neighbouring areas, but also provided for an immediate and efficient response to the challenges posed by didactic activities during the emergency.
Special Mention for Professors Concetta Ferri and Fabiola La Rocca at IC Peroni Levi in Bari
A Special Mention was presented to two professors for the determination and curiosity that led them to participate with enthusiasm and critical spirit in all the activities organised by the Global Junior Challenge and to seek connections with other realities in order to enrich their school, their community and the personal and scholastic development of their students.
The event was organised with the patronage of the City of Rome.
PRESS KIT
- Press Note
- Programme
- Videomessagge by Giorgio Parisi, Noble Prize for Physics
- Alfonso Molina’s Presentation
- Project Profile
- Stories
- Notes and Curiosities
- 10 Years
- Photo Gallery: Day 1 | Day 2| Day 3
