Educational strategy of the Simulada Training Company (indicated in Italy with the acronym IFS, Impresa Formativa Simulata)

• Autores: Angela Maria Greco
• Localización: Edunovatic 2018. Conference Proceedings: 3rd Virtual International Conference on Education, Innovation and ICT. 17-19 December, 2018, 2019, ISBN 978-94-92805-08-9, pág. 221
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Texto Completo Libro (pdf)
• Resumen

  • School-Work Alternation pathways (the dual-training projects) for secondary school students have, for years, fuelled a lively discussion on the theme of pedagogy in Italy and in many European Union countries concerning the various possibilities of integration between school and the world of work (Benvenuto, 2017). Among the methods of implementation of these projects in Italy, as required by law 107/2015, there is the Simulated Training Enterprise (Impresa Formativa Simulata, IFS), based on the learning-by-doing methodology, which involves the creation of a real enterprise by the students on a virtual platform. This method assumes a value as an “innovation strategy” (OCSE-PISA 2018) in an entrepreneurial fabric like the Italian one, which is not homogeneous (taking into account the substantial differences between the various areas at national level, especially in terms of availability of facilities which host the students). Therefore, it answers the key objective of promoting and developing the entrepreneurial skills defined by the European Commission with the 2012 Communication “Rethinking education: investing in skills in view of better socio-economic results” and which was renewed in the 2016 Communication “A new skills agenda for Europe” (Eurydice, 2016). In this regard, we describe the “Enterprise in Action” project of 2017 attended by 17 students. 120 hours of curricular and extra-curricular activities were carried out: activities on the digital platform (in the laboratory), theoretical activities with specific disciplinary modules (in the classroom), contacts with business experts appointed by the Chamber of Commerce (ASSEFI- ISI) of Pisa. The activities were mainly carried out at school, with meetings at the company and participation in events and fairs. The students were coordinated by a school tutor and a volunteer business expert with the role of “Dream Coach” during the creation and management of the mini-enterprise, from the concept of the idea to its launch on the market. The evaluation of the experience shows a high level of acquired skills and a strong positive involvement by the students. The training confirms the educational value of the ISF meant as a “laboratory of development of skills for life” (Salatin, 2017).