Progetto Highlights for High School 09-10
Education system in Italy
Presentation for the students of
MIT
Fall, 2009
Where we are: Lombardy
Crema, Milano, Gallarate, Busto Arsizio

Crema, Lombardia
Duomo in downtown Crema
Education System
Stages
Pre-school school
_____________________
 Primary school

3-6
6 - 11

Middle school
11 - 14

High school
14 - 19
High school
5 years (14 - 19)
At the age of 14, students must choose
what type of high school to attend:



Liceo (more academic): classico, scientifico,
artistico
Technical schools
Vocational schools
Compulsory education is required until 16
Liceo classico
Emphasizes Latin,
Greek, Art History,
Philosophy
Liceo scientifico
Focuses on
mathematics and
science
Istituto Tecnico




Tecnico Commerciale (Business Studies)
Tecnico Industriale (Mechanics, Computer
Science)
Tecnico per Geometri (Land planning and
Environmental Studies)
Others
High school. Some general facts
Timetable: from 28 to 36 teaching hours / week
Students come to school
either
– Every morning, Monday to Saturday
or
– Monday to Friday, + one or two afternoons
High school. Some more …
About 10 subjects per year
 No optional subjects
 Students stay together for all subjects
 State exam at the end of the 5 years
 Access to University

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU
FOR OUR TEACHERS:
- Short presentation of MIT and its teaching
methods
- Presentation of the Highlights for High School
program
- Presentation of the Hands on Methodology

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU
FOR OUR STUDENTS:
- Short presentation of MIT
- Short self-introduction
- Lessons (the Italian teacher of the subject will
be in the classroom with you)
- An example of test for each module

WHAT KIND OF LESSON?


WHAT ? Lessons of biology/ physics/ math/
computer science. Each module (topic) will
be 2 to 10 teaching units long
HOW ? It ‘s fundamental that topics are
presented through a hands on methodology
(simple experiments, examples, problems
etc)
EXAMPLES OF TOPICS
Math
Class II
Second-year students
Quadratic equations
(8 hours)
Applications: problems; higher
degree equations
Class III
Third-year students
Inequalities
(8 hours)
Class IV
Fourth-year students
Descriptive statistics
(8 hours)
EXAMPLES OF TOPICS
Computer science
Class III
Third-year students
Class IV
Fourth-year students
Class V
Fifth-year students
1) Introduction to programming for
students with no programming
background: very simple
algorithms , variables, operators,
conditional statements, looping
statements using a programming
language like Python 2.5 or higher
(4/6 hours)
1) Introduction to Data Base and
DBMS: redundancy, inconsistency,
integrity, logical and physical data
independence, information security
(2/3 hours)
1) Distributed systems, computer
networks, topologies, routing ... for
students with little background in
computer science (2/4 hours)
2) Computer hardware: processor,
ram, I/O devices for students with
very little background in computer
science (2/4 hours)
2) How to create a professionallooking web page - for students
with html programming background
(2/3 hours)
3) Computer network security and
web security (3/6 hours) for
students with medium background
in computer science (3/4 hours)
EXAMPLES OF TOPICS
Physics
Class II
Second-year students
A lesson of two hours on one of the following topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Work , Power
Kinetic Energy, Potential Energy
Conservation of Mechanical Energy
Temperature and Heat
EXAMPLES OF TOPICS
Science
Class II
Second-year students
A lesson of two hours on one of the following topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Virus: general characteristics, spread of infection and diseases
Evolution from prokaryotic to eukaryotic cells
Eukaryotic cells: general structure, differences between animal and vegetal cells
Structure and function of the most important cell organelles
ITCG Luca Pacioli, Crema (Cremona)
Istituto Tecnico Commerciale
Collegio San Carlo, Milano
Liceo classico e scientifico
ITCG “E.Tosi”, Busto Arsizio, VA
Liceo Scientifico
“Leonardo da Vinci” Gallarate, VA
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?




Selection
Direct contact with schools to agree on
topics
Make a list of the necessary material to
bring / you’ll need in Italy for the lessons,
to tell the schools so that they can get
organized
COME TO ITALY!!!!!
The End
Snow at Pacioli, winter 2008