Lodi has just celebrated its 857th anniversary. It’s a city that was rebuilt by Emperor Frederick II of Sweden, also known as Red Beard. Now, this historical city is home to the students of the Classics “Pietro Verri” Section of IIS Giovanni Gandini and their Professor, Paolo Egidio Camera, who teaches art history. His students are completing an innovative project for the Meet No Neet Contest, the programme that is part of the global Microsoft YouthSpark Programme.
Creativity and passion are already contained in the three-word project name, ExpLODIamo: “Expo” in honour of the international event on environmental sustainability, responsible behaviour and social justice. “These are issues that we will continue to pursue,” explains the teacher. “Lodi+ amo” means that the project aims to stimulate appreciation and love for the local environment through care and creative activities. The project, in fact, addresses Lodi’s artistic heritage, its culture and its natural environment of flora and fauna.
So how does one attract young men and women to do this?
“Through self-developed didactic content that can also be designed through the use of low-cost and user-friendly technology such as smartphones, tablets and 3D printers,” explains Prof Paolo Egidio without hesitating.
This means that mobile devices “can be used for didactic purposes, instead as being seen as agents of distraction,” becoming creative tools for sharing content.
“The project addresses a range of subjects, including: Italian, Drawing and Art History, Natural Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science and English (which are also part of the school programme). The project will develop hypermedia material (HD photos, GIF animations in stop motion and time-lapse, didactic videos, emotive storytelling and narrative didactics) related to works of art and natural objects and environments. The didactic content – products, cognitive processes and operative methodologies - will be shared on an open platform.”
The project is also geared to the integration of foreign students thanks to the use of English as a project language and the familiarity of students with mobile devices. This is an important choice, especially for a city that now hosts a population that is 13% foreign.
Project Meet No Neet, which is currently in its third edition, provides young men and women with technological, social and entrepreneurial training for life in the 21st century. In particular, the students find support for the development of their ideas and projects and help for entering the working world. The main project phases include:
- Experiential training (even via coding, project management, etc. activities)
- Development and Crowdfunding
- Discovery Talent Contest, Hackathon & Fair
