December 1, 2021
La Republica
Staff Reporter

Professor Mansi: “The aim was to improve the basic motor functions of our students, especially those with learning disabilities or a form of diversability”

Body and mind are inseparable allies and play on the same team: training motor functions, in this sense, means training cognitive functions strictly innervated to our body nature.

Starting from this assumption, the project The mind beyond the limits was born, created by the Attilio Bertolucci sports high school with the support of Microgate, a leading company in the engineering and optics sector, winner of the National Award for Digital Innovation 2021 promoted by Anitec-Assinform, the Italian association of information technologies linked to Confindustria, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

The ideal starting point of the project, as explained by Professor Alan Mansi, referent of the path created through the collaboration between pupils with and without disabilities, “is the awareness, supported by science, of the fact that our brain is an organ with great plasticity, a trait that allows the brain to change at any age: this flexibility plays an incredibly important role in the development or decline of our faculties as well as in the development of each person’s personality. our students, especially those with learning disabilities or a form of diversity, through a psycho-motor training path that uses the BrainHQ method developed by Michael Merzenich, American neuroscientist father of neuronal plasticity “.

As was highlighted at the awards ceremony that took place in Rome on November 23, during the study day Digital to Grow in the presence of Anna Brancaccio, director of the Ministry of Education and Maria Rita Fiasco, vice-president of the Anitec-Assinform Skills for Business Growth group, digital represents a precious opportunity to make the country more inclusive, offering growth opportunities to all citizens and removing obstacles that prevent the full development of everyone’s potential.

Four projects awarded by the commission, chaired by Francesco Profumo, within a wide range of participants who, as Brancaccio observes, “have created paths connected to highly topical issues that put people at the center”.

The theme of Disability and the digital challenge was very popular, with respect to which the response from the schools was full of ideas and innovative proposals within which the commission chose to work in great harmony, as highlighted by the manager. The projects presented for the various thematic areas, observes Profumo (president of the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation), “were all of the highest quality but, as in any competition, we had to choose some winners: however, applause for the commitment made in devising tools and paths that promote the digital transition of the country “.

On the stage to receive the certificate of merit, as well as a check that will contribute to the further development of planning, Professor Mansi was flanked by Francesco Sinagra and Manuela De Finis, representing the pupils involved in the award-winning path.

“These are projects that bring us close to the future, together with students and their teachers: without culture, no growth can be imagined”, observes Maria Rita Fiasco, highlighting the conscious use of a technology aimed at including, at the base both the project presented by the Bertolucci high school and the project, also awarded, Local digital book friend of the Iia Venturi of Modena. A conscious use of technology and digital technology thanks to which “young people are leading us all towards a more inclusive future”.

Satisfaction is expressed by Marco Daprà, company tutor on behalf of Microgate and BrainHQ, for the realization of a project “which allowed us to be close to the world of education and the entire pedagogical field and which also obtained the prestigious opportunity to be presented to Sismes (Italian Society of Motor and Sports Sciences), receiving significant scientific feedback “.

The awarded project, Mansi concludes, “proved to be extremely formative and brought out, thanks to teamwork, our inclusive idea of ​​school: for this I want to thank all the students and colleagues who collaborated, professors Dotti, Paini and Bonoldi and all the colleagues of the Inclusion department. A special thanks goes to the head teacher Aluisi Tosolini who has always shared and supported our ideas of innovation and to Alessandra Scarton, biomedical engineer and Marco Daprà from Microgate who followed us at actively accompanied by offering always interesting ideas and supporting us throughout the entire journey “.