Adoption of the “School 4.0 Plan” in implementation of investment line 3.2 “School 4.0: innovative schools, cabling, new learning environments and laboratories” within Mission 4 – Component 1 – of the national recovery and resilience plan, financed by the European Union – Next Generation EU

NOTICE

SCHOOL 4.0 NEXT GENERATION LABS

Recipients: state secondary schools of secondary level.

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Objectives and purposes

Next Generation Labs is the title of the second action of the “School 4.0” Plan, which provides for the creation of laboratories for the digital professions of the future, capable of providing specific digital skills in various advanced technological fields, transversal to economic sectors, in a context of authentic activities and effective simulation of the places, tools, and processes related to new professions.

- robotics and automation;

- artificial intelligence;

- cloud computing;

- cybersecurity;

- Internet of Things;

- making and modeling and 3D/4D printing;

- creation of digital products and services;

- creation and use of services in virtual and augmented reality;

- digital communication;

- processing, analysis, and study of big data;

- digital economy, e-commerce, and blockchain.

The laboratories for the digital professions of the future can be understood as fluid learning environments where diverse experiences are lived, personal skills are developed in collaboration with peers, teamwork is learned, and specific digital skills oriented towards work and transversal to different economic sectors are acquired (agriculture and agri-food, automotive and mechanics, ICT, construction, environment, energy, financial services, public administration, health and well-being, manufacturing, chemistry and biotechnology, transportation and logistics, education, professional services, tourism, culture, communication, green transition, etc.).

The laboratories are characterized by the performance of authentic activities and effective simulation of the contexts, tools, and processes related to digital professions, job shadowing experiences, through direct observation and reflection of professional practice, actions following the work-based learning approach, and can consist of a single large open space, articulated in zones and structured for work phases, or in communicating and integrated spaces, which enhance group work within the project life cycle (project-based learning), from ideation to planning, to the realization of products and services. They are characterized by widespread ultra-wideband connectivity and are open to experimentation with 5G technology, where available.

Augmented reality and virtual reality can support advanced digital skills training experiences even outside the laboratories, simulating real school and work contexts.

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SCHOOL 4.0 PLAN

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ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES ACTION 2 NEXT GENERATION LABS

• February 28, 2023 deadline for submitting projects on the platform “FUTURA”

• June 30, 2023 deadline for identifying entities entrusted with supplies and services - Determination -

• June 30, 2024 deadline for creating innovative learning environments and laboratories and testing of related equipment and devices. Testing
  
  

• School Year 2024-2025 commencement of use for teaching in the new environments and laboratories

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Monitoring and evaluation of interventions

The creation of Next Generation Classrooms and Next Generation Labs will be subject to specific periodic semi-annual monitoring of the progress of activities. Implementing schools must upload information regarding the progress of the design and implementation of each transformed innovative learning environment and digital profession laboratories (only for the second cycle).

The evaluation of the measure will be carried out both through the analysis of monitoring data and through the comparison of output and outcome data in relation to the improvement of school performance indicators, as detected by the national evaluation system.