ICT in primary schools: an examination of Italian practices

Abstract

In March 2003, school reform was definitively approved by the Italian Parliament. The aims of the reform are to create a school which works together with parents to promote the individual development of children. After eighth class, pupils have to choose whether to continue schooling at secondary school or vocational school, the latter being organised by regional authorities. Though no definitive curriculum has yet been developed, there are clear directives on two relevant subjects: information technology and English will be learned by all Italian pupils starting with the first primary class. The experience of Rodari School, a primary school studied during the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) case‐study research, gains particular importance in this scenario. School reform was introduced early at this school. Every morning all the children switch on the computers in their classrooms, which are connected to the Internet. The web site (www. formicaio.it) is only a small part of th...