I.I.S. TITO SARROCCHI
Our school is located in Siena, in the centre of Italy. We have a section of general studies (Italian, Maths, English, History of Art, Physics) and a section with vocational studies (mechanics, energetics, information technology, chemistry, electronics and robotics, electrotechnics).
We are confident that such a project will interest, motivate and stimulate our students, and improve their learning experience in a wide range of subjects. It will also improve the motivation, engagement and social inclusion of all learners. The Italian institutions are very concerned about global warming and we have been working with our students on different types of projects related to this issue for many years doing separate collection, building renewable power plants like solar panels, recycling, stimulating pupils to buy reusable bottles, paying attention to the use of water and electricity. It’s an urgent need for us to sensitise and teach the new generation how important it is to respect our planet and share this common good by trying to preserve it and teaching how much of a difference can every single action of every individual make.
Climate change has no borders, temperatures continue to rise, making the Mediterranean one of the areas most affected and being at the forefront of these challenges. The European Commission has created transnational cooperation programmes to deal with the issues. One of these is “Maestrale Project”. Our school took part in an experiment called “Blue Growth”, promoted by the University of Siena. We designed, constructed and assembled a prototype of a wind turbine which we launched in the water of the “Fonte Gaia” fountain in Siena. This underwater kite has been tested and resulted in an effective means to produce electricity exploiting water with its marine currents and tides. This was only the beginning of the project which was followed by a very intense dissemination activity, first with an international meeting in Malaga during the conference “Blue Future Generations – exploring marine energies with students” and then at Giglio Island’s Open Day and at “Didacta Fair” in Florence, obtaining the prize of “Excellence in the School”.
We don’t have previous direct experience on Erasmus+ projects but we have been organising some cultural exchanges for many years and have sent a large number of students on Erasmus+ internship in many European countries for many years. We have also had some business simulation in our school, in which some classes of general studies developed some prototype products and developed simulated marketing for them, while always maintaining a close look at the environmental footprint of the activities. The involved key people are: Patrizia Rossetti – English teacher, project coordinator; Elisa Bennati – English teacher, implementation responsible; Davide Barce – IT teacher, dissemination; Leonardo Consortini – Mechanics teacher, implementation.
Website: www.sarrocchi.edu.it