Technology as a bridge to a school that welcomes everyone
Yesterday saw the conclusion of the latest event in the PariPasso programme, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale in collaboration with Rizzoli Education. The session, entitled ‘Technologies for a welcoming school’, demonstrated how artificial intelligence and digital storytelling can become a ‘universal tool’, a space where every student can feel like an active part of the community.
AI as the teacher’s co-pilot
During the webinar, the speakers reiterated a fundamental concept: technology should not be feared, but should enhance educational work. Lara Rollo emphasised that “artificial intelligence in no way replaces the teacher but supports them… we must see it as a co-pilot”, enabling activities to be personalised and adapted to individual needs. Through the use of three key words – simplification, multimodality and feedback – teachers can make complex materials accessible without trivialising them, supporting the different cognitive styles present in the classroom.
The power of stories and the “narrative brain”
A key part of the meeting was devoted to storytelling, viewed not merely as a technique, but as a biological necessity. Nicoletta Vulpetti explained that ‘the brain, our wonderful brain, is designed to process stories rather than information’. Storytelling thus becomes an act of citizenship: ‘storytelling is not something you are born with... it is something you learn, practise and refine’. Practical exercises were suggested, such as the use of ‘narrative cards’ or assigning meanings to ‘made-up words’, to lower the threshold of emotional exposure for pupils and encourage self-expression.
Tools for active teaching
From creating illustrated books with Story Wizard and Gemini Storybook, to using Arasaac pictograms on Canva, right through to gamification with Panquiz and UKAI, the webinar offered a rich overview of free or affordable tools to transform lessons into an inclusive experience.
Did you miss the live stream? If you were unable to attend, we invite you to watch the full recording available on the Rizzoli Education YouTube channel at the same link as the live stream. It is a valuable opportunity to discover how to make school an environment that welcomes, values and supports every student on their journey of growth.
