In October, the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research signed a Memorandum of Understanding as part of the “Network Protocols,” the initiative through which the Ministry aims to improve exchanges between schools and associations, companies and foundations working in the field of didactic innovation.
The MIUR-FMD Memorandum, in line with the principles outlined in the “Buona Scuola” document, calls for FMD to promote projects and actions that will renew school laboratories and extend their experience as Phyrtual Innovation Gyms. Thanks to their collaboration with FMD, schools will be able to review their curricula, including technological environments and opening up schools to local collaborations inspired by the vision of the Phyrtual Innovation Gym conceived by Alfonso Molina, Professor of Technology Strategy, University of Edinburgh and Scientific Director, Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
The Memorandum calls for the Fondazione Mondo Digitale to employ an on-line platform and the creation of a national network of schools to promote the exchange of experiences and interaction amongst the schools that will develop a Phyrtual Innovation Gym.
At present, over one hundred schools have expressed their interst in this project and three have already begun activities: IIS Pacinotti-Archimede (Rome), the Centro Kairos (Teramo) and the Istituto comprensivo Generale Gonzaga di Eboli (Salerno).
The schools will be supported in this process by a FMD crowdfunding platform that will help them identify sponsors and collaborations, as well as resources to develop the projects.
What is a Phyrtual Innovation Gym?
A Phyrtual Innovation Gym is a physical-virtual environment for innovation and life education. It is a gym for experiential learning and practicing innovation at 360 degrees: technologically, socially and civically. It’s open to the community, to school, to enterprises, universities; its pulsing heart is youth. It is a meeting place for old and new professions, based on traditional and digital manufacturing, experimentation and creativity to stimulate professional growth, self-enterprise and 21st century skills (www.innovationgym.org).
The Phyrtual Innovation Gym was also featured in a report by RaiUno TV programme “SuperQuark.” See the TV programme.
