I am Mario Catalano, Maria Paola Fortuna and Giuseppe Fiamingo the three teachers who won for the2024 edition of “Atlante – Italian Teachers’ Prize”created by United Network, the largest European organization dealing with higher educationin partnership with La Repubblica and Repubblica Scuola.
The Prize is awarded to innovative, inclusive and original projects developed by teachers and carried out with students. A profession, that of teacher, often little considered, whose Atlante recognizes the value and social role, as well as creative initiatives. The prize also aims to disseminate good practices developed within Italian schools.
The awarded projects address various themes: from the creative use of the most advanced technologies like robotics to the inclusion of people facing the problem of autism, up to in-depth scientific research with a jump from school to the universe.
Primary school:
The winner, Mario Catalanois a technology teacher at primary school “Giovanni Pascoli” from Erice, in the province of Trapani. He won with the project “The store of digital worlds”, involving hundreds of students, between eight and ten years old, in a training course in computational thinking and creativity through media design and educational robotics.
Lower secondary education:
Won Maria Paola Fortunasupport professor at the Institute “Ruggero Bonghi” of Rome. His project “Not just teaching AAC. The CAA to raise awareness of inclusion”, It's about autism: the teacher organized a series of activities to raise awareness in the school community about an important topic like autism and allowed students to internalize and embrace the concept of caring for others.
Upper secondary education:
He was rewarded Giuseppe FiamingoProfessor of “Fratelli Vianeo” Scientific High School in Tropea, province of Vibo Valentia.
The project is: “MoCRiL (Measurement of Cosmic Rays in Like) an underwater laboratory for exploration”.
The teacher involved students in the investigation of the origin of ionizing radiation, focusing on experimental verification of the extraterrestrial nature of cosmic particles.
They were also assigned special mentions:
HAS Laura Bifulcoprofessor of microbiology at Technical Institute of Technology “Grazia Deledda” of Cagliari, for the “Researchers grow” project on plastic-eating insects; special mention for its ability to arouse curiosity and instill a love for science.
HAS Mauro Longoprimary school teacherDon Lorenzo Milani” of Galatone, Lecce, with the “Musica Maestro” project: the special mention was received for its ability to transmit the love of music.
HAS Sarah Migniniteacher of Italian, history and geography at the Comprehensive Institute “Allegretto” of Monteprandone, for the project “This time for Africa/this time for humanity”. Special mention goes to the ability to generate empathy and interest in other cultures.
All the projects presented can be freely consulted within the public platform on Repubblica@Scuola and on the Atlante website (archives of 2018-2022 projects).
The jury:
The projects were judged by a jury chaired by Alessandro Fusacchia, innovator, essayist, former MP and coordinator of the Interparliamentary Guidance Group (2018-2022) and chief of staff of the Ministry of Education (2014-2016).
“This award aims not only to celebrate the value of all teachers, but also to provide important insight into the extraordinary work that tens and tens of thousands of people do every day to make school the place to grow, to take of conscience and ransom. When evaluating the projects, the jury's guiding principle was Article 3 of the Constitution.“, has said Fusacchia.. “It was a demanding task, but above all fascinating, which allowed us to discover and learn extraordinary experiences,” he concludes.
here are the other jurors: Piero Attanasio, Silvia Bencivelli, Lorenzo Benussi, Francesca Biglia, Andrea Colamedici, Miriam Cresta, Davide D'Atri, Lia Di Trapani, Patrizia Lombardi, Marco Martinelli, Federico Pace, Riccardo Messina, Christian Raimo, Federica Vinci and Marcella Mallen.
