Today, the Istituto comprensivo Pier Cironi in Prato, directed by Alessandro Giorni, will begin hosting teacher training courses for Project BYOC – Build Your Own Cloud, promoted with Acer. The school is also a member of the National Network of Phyrtual Innovation Gyms.
Tomorrow, Coaches Mohamed Fadiga and Valentina Gelsomini will host a session at IIS Galileo Galilei in Livorno with the help of Professor Gabriele Volpi. The project is coordinated by Cecilia Stajano, School Innovation Manager for the Fondazione Mondo Digitale.
PROJECT PROFILE
Acer and the Fondazione Mondo Digitale launched Project BYOC – Build Your Own Cloud to provide ten schools in Tuscany and Lazio with the opportunity to design and experiment immersive educational experiences in innovative learning environments using the Cloud Professor Kit.
CLOUD PROFESSOR
Cloud Professor is a modular, connected and compact system that exploits Physical computing and the Internet of Things to stimulate the development of computational thought in a fun and creative manner. The kit has unlimited possibilities thanks to its vast range of sensors and modules. Indeed, the kits provides vast range of educational applications: from Computer Science to Physics, Robotics and Mechanics. Students can start with simple tools to promote the development of computational thought, such as the Blockly Graphic Editor and then move on to coding programmes in Java Script and increasingly complex didactic projects.
THE PROJECT
The objective is to introduce students to STREAM subjects (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) by increasing the technical and digital competences of Italian teachers.
In April 2018, two new Acer Centres (A-Centre) were inaugurated at the Rome Phyrtual Innovation Gym and at the Istituto comprensivo Pier Cironi in Prato. These are two hubs specialised in Acer Educational Technology, focusing on IoT and Robotics, that will become local reference points and a pilot model for other areas. The two A-Centres will host free courses for schools and teacher training.
Nine other schools in Tuscany and Lazio, which are already members of the National Network of Phyrtual Innovation Gyms, will receive and experiment with an Acer Cloud Professor Kit.
EDUCATION
A select team of teachers from the two regions will participate in an intensive immersive training session held by Acer experts and coaches from the FMD Phyrtual Innovation Gym in Rome.
The training session will combine two elements:
· Development of local social innovation projects with the educational opportunities provides by the Cloud Professor Kit and other innovative methodologies, such as Lego Serious Play;
· Experimentation of multidisciplinary educational experiences with the Cloud Professor Kit.
The schools participating in the training session will meet three months later at the Phyrtual Innovation Gym for a creative marathon challenge with Acer experts and FMD coaches.
OBJECTIVES
· Development of new local points for the National Network of Phyrtual Innovation Gyms to serve as reference points for schools, start-ups and SMEs to identify innovative solutions with the help of students;
· Reduction of the skills mismatch between student competences and those required by the job market.
