The winning classes of the “NeoConnessi” competition were awarded in the Chamber of Deputies, Wind Tre’s digital education project which involved millions of Italian students and almost half of the country’s schools. The initiative aims to raise awareness among young people about the conscious use of technology and this year it had as its theme Digital grandparents: connecting generationstransforming children into true “digital masters” of their grandparents and promoting digital literacy in the family through play and collaboration.
The winning classes were awarded by the actor and television presenter Paolo Ruffini, special guest of the event, who interviewed the students and received a special plaque for his commitment to raising awareness about bullying. The morning was opened by institutional greetings from representatives of the Chamber of Deputies and the Ministry of Education and Merit, followed by the talk “Digital well-being: living technology with balance, safety and awareness”, with the participation of parliamentarians, experts and members of the NeoConnessi Scientific Committee, including psychologists and representatives of the State Police. The round table was moderated by Simone Cosimi, a technology expert journalist.
The papers presented by the schools demonstrated the effectiveness of the project in promoting a responsible approach to technology. The topics addressed ranged from fake news to sharenting, from online security to online scams.
The first prize was won by the Fortis Primary School of Brugherio, with a digital escape room to facilitate meetings between generations. The silver medal went to the San Mauro Marchesato School, with videos in which children teach their grandparents to surf online. Third place was awarded to the Giovanni Ponti School of Trebaseleghe, with a digital bulletin board that reinvents traditional games. A special mention was given to the Tolfa primary school for having transformed the municipal garden into an open-air digital laboratory, where different generations can meet in safety and creativity.
Tommaso Vitali, director of B2C Marketing & New Business and Digital Responsibility Ambassador of Wind Tre, underlined that the company represents “a real gateway to digital” and that it is essential to accompany young people and adults with concrete tools and educational paths.
Luca Bernardelli, psychologist consultant on Artificial Intelligence, instead observed that “in the virtual world it is easier to hurt, because the other becomes an image on the screen”, highlighting the importance of digital psychological education as an integral part of school, to help children understand the risks of online interactions.
Finally, Federica Bensi, Chief Technical Psychologist Commissioner of the State Police, added that often “what the Postal Police receives is only the tip of the iceberg” and that reporting incidents of cyberbullying and online solicitation is essential to start investigations and protect minors, also from a psychological point of view.
The NeoConnessi project is carried out in collaboration with the State Police, the Italian Society of Paediatrics and the National Council of the Order of Psychologists, and developed with La Fabbrica Società Benefit. The project is free and open to all primary and middle school students, their parents and teachers, with teaching materials and educational paths dedicated to promoting a safe and conscious use of technology.
