Between Virtual and Physical Reality

 School 4.0: innovative schools, wiring, new classrooms and workshops (Mission 4 – Component 1 - Investment 3.2)

Italy’s Recovery and Resilience Plan provides for updating school facilities into adaptable, flexible and digital learning environments, with technologically advanced workshops and a work-based learning process. This measure accelerates the digital transition of the Italian school system with four initiatives:

- Transformation of around 100 000 traditional classes into connected learning environments, with the introduction of related educational devices

- Creation of workshops for digital professions in the second cycle

- Digitalization of school administrations - Interior wiring cabling of approximately 40 000 school buildings and related devices.

The investment is financed by Italy’s Recovery and Resilience plan by EUR 2.1 billion.

The project aims to create laboratories for the digital professions of the future, fostering innovation and collaboration between schools, universities, ITS institutes, and local businesses. The design process will actively involve students, making them key participants in the project’s development and encouraging partnerships with local enterprises.

The laboratories will also be available for activities with universities, higher technical institutes (ITS), and innovative startups. They will be used for career guidance initiatives and to support PCTO pathways (Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation).

Two laboratories will be implemented:

- A chemistry and physics laboratory, equipped with hardware and software that enable work with virtual content in an immersive environment;
- An innovative digital laboratory, equipped with computers and tools supporting the use of artificial intelligence and language learning. This lab will introduce a new methodological approach to acquiring foreign language skills and developing communication-oriented content creation abilities.

These new laboratories will serve as dynamic learning environments, fostering creativity, digital literacy, and collaboration while bridging the gap between education and the world of work.

This project is financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) with a total amount of €124,044.57.