MATERA ONLINE MATERA ONLINE NEWSPAPERNEWSPAPER

A bridge among culturesA bridge among cultures

Matera and its regionMatera and its region.. Matera (57.000 Matera (57.000

inhab.) is a town and a inhab.) is a town and a province in the region province in the region of Basilicata (600.000 of Basilicata (600.000 inhabitants.) in the inhabitants.) in the south of Italy. south of Italy.

Matera’s province, Matera’s province, including the chief including the chief town, has got 200.000 town, has got 200.000 inhabitantsinhabitants..

The major part of its The major part of its villages has got no villages has got no more than 10.000 more than 10.000 inhabitantsinhabitants..

Matera: UNESCO WORLD Matera: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGEHERITAGE

This town has many peculiar, unique This town has many peculiar, unique characters: characters:

The "Sassi" are houses dug into the The "Sassi" are houses dug into the tuff rock that characterizes Puglia and tuff rock that characterizes Puglia and Basilicata. Many of these "houses" are Basilicata. Many of these "houses" are really only caverns. really only caverns.

People still live in the Sassi. Until the People still live in the Sassi. Until the late 1980s this was considered a poor late 1980s this was considered a poor people's habit, since these houses are people's habit, since these houses are mostly unlivable. But the current local mostly unlivable. But the current local administration, becoming more administration, becoming more tourism-oriented, has succeded in tourism-oriented, has succeded in making the "Sassi" a nice site, and tuff making the "Sassi" a nice site, and tuff houses are becoming more livable and houses are becoming more livable and attractive.attractive.Note: many people in the past Note: many people in the past believed that people only live in the believed that people only live in the Sassi; perhaps it is better to point out Sassi; perhaps it is better to point out that the main part of Matera's people that the main part of Matera's people now live in the modern town. There is now live in the modern town. There is a great similarity with the prehistoric a great similarity with the prehistoric sites of Jerusalem, which are of the sites of Jerusalem, which are of the same prehistoric age. same prehistoric age.

It has been selected from the Unesco It has been selected from the Unesco as a World’s cultural heritage.as a World’s cultural heritage.

Newspaper’s birthNewspaper’s birth We had the first idea of an We had the first idea of an

online newspaper in 2000.online newspaper in 2000. The first edition was limited The first edition was limited

to the Matera’s province.to the Matera’s province. A local newspaper (La A local newspaper (La

Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno), Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno), published on its website published on its website various online newspaper’s various online newspaper’s local edition.local edition.

How it worksHow it works

The school partners The school partners participate with articles participate with articles written by the students, written by the students, complete with images or complete with images or drawings made by them.drawings made by them.

The pupils or the schools The pupils or the schools send their articles via e-send their articles via e-mail, or on a floppy disk. mail, or on a floppy disk. The “Liceo Duni’s” editorial The “Liceo Duni’s” editorial staff, that can enter the staff, that can enter the site’s Administration, site’s Administration, receives the articles and receives the articles and issues them online, after issues them online, after providing, if necessary, the providing, if necessary, the English translation.English translation.

Newspaper’s compositionNewspaper’s composition

The newspaper has got an homepage The newspaper has got an homepage containing 8 articles, with a picture, containing 8 articles, with a picture, title and abstract for every article.title and abstract for every article.

Clicking on the picture or on the title, Clicking on the picture or on the title, a page opens with the full text of the a page opens with the full text of the article.article.

Obviously, clicking on the flag, Obviously, clicking on the flag, everyone can choose his preferred everyone can choose his preferred language.language.

EuropeanEuropean newspaper’newspaper’s births birth

Once we saw the Once we saw the success the local success the local newspaper had, we newspaper had, we thought to extend thought to extend it at an European it at an European level. level.

The response was The response was soon enthusiastic.soon enthusiastic.

LanguageLanguage problemproblem

Obviously, the first Obviously, the first problem we had to problem we had to face, was the face, was the comprehension comprehension between us. between us.

So we thought about So we thought about publishing articles, publishing articles, when possible, in a when possible, in a bilingual version: bilingual version: mother and English mother and English language .language .

The projectThe project The project consists in an international The project consists in an international on-line newspaper, in network, made by on-line newspaper, in network, made by young people from different countries, in young people from different countries, in different languages. different languages. It originates from the collaboration between It originates from the collaboration between LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO, a local newspaper, LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO, a local newspaper,

which offers a free space in the web, and which offers a free space in the web, and LICEO CLASSICO "DUNI" - Matera (Italy),LICEO CLASSICO "DUNI" - Matera (Italy), and wants to meet the school growing demands of and wants to meet the school growing demands of

coming out of a traditional isolation to share ideas and coming out of a traditional isolation to share ideas and projects with other schools and collaborate with the projects with other schools and collaborate with the other professional figures of the local area.other professional figures of the local area.

Project’s aimsProject’s aims By this project we want to promote a By this project we want to promote a

use of technologies primarily use of technologies primarily educationaleducational, in order to carry out , in order to carry out something really felt and made by something really felt and made by students. students.

The project is completely based on the The project is completely based on the use of technologies. The Internet is the use of technologies. The Internet is the means employed to means employed to enable young enable young peoplepeople, even those living in very far , even those living in very far countries, countries, to keep in touchto keep in touch, exchanging , exchanging and comparing their ideas.and comparing their ideas.

In this way the new technologies In this way the new technologies become a medium for critical become a medium for critical consideration and their responsible use consideration and their responsible use can offer opportunities of cultural can offer opportunities of cultural enrichment and, why not, amusement.enrichment and, why not, amusement.

StudentsStudents A great number of students are A great number of students are

enthusiastically taking part in enthusiastically taking part in cultural exchange programmes cultural exchange programmes with foreign countries, because with foreign countries, because this experience gives them the this experience gives them the chance to improve their chance to improve their knowledge of foreign languages knowledge of foreign languages and to enlarge their cultural and to enlarge their cultural views.views.

We can notice that the youth We can notice that the youth are deeply interested in Europe, are deeply interested in Europe, but, in order to become true but, in order to become true European citizens, they should European citizens, they should be informed about the most be informed about the most important issues of the Union important issues of the Union and, above all, they should have and, above all, they should have the possibility to exchange the possibility to exchange ideas and know each other in "a ideas and know each other in "a room of their own".room of their own".

SchoolsSchools Among other school needs, we have noticed an Among other school needs, we have noticed an

impelling necessity to impelling necessity to test new methodstest new methods allowing allowing the application of the new technologies to the application of the new technologies to teaching, not contrasting the traditional teaching teaching, not contrasting the traditional teaching methods, but as an methods, but as an integrated systemintegrated system in the in the cross-curriculum.cross-curriculum.

This is the background of Matera's on-line This is the background of Matera's on-line newspaper. It is a room for young people who can newspaper. It is a room for young people who can express freely their ideas. Students can test their express freely their ideas. Students can test their ability in different forms of writing: articles, ability in different forms of writing: articles, interviews, reports, using different languages. interviews, reports, using different languages. Many articles have been published and are visible Many articles have been published and are visible clicking on “Tutte le notizie”, in the "Archivio" clicking on “Tutte le notizie”, in the "Archivio" window.window.

An important aspect of this project is the An important aspect of this project is the possibility to possibility to debate among people of the same debate among people of the same ageage, offered, thanks to the Internet, also to young , offered, thanks to the Internet, also to young people living in the most remote places or in people living in the most remote places or in underdeveloped countries.underdeveloped countries.

Project’s goalsProject’s goalsThe project goals are:The project goals are: To promote a To promote a positive usepositive use of the new ways of communication, as of the new ways of communication, as means of meeting, comparison, participationmeans of meeting, comparison, participation To acquire the ability of To acquire the ability of criticism and of independent thoughtcriticism and of independent thought necessary to participate necessary to participate

actively in the information societyactively in the information society To teach young people to To teach young people to work in collaborationwork in collaboration and to promote the culture of the new and to promote the culture of the new

mediamedia To train students to express and propose their ideas through To train students to express and propose their ideas through non traditional ways of non traditional ways of

writingwriting To put school in touch and collaboration with the To put school in touch and collaboration with the external worldexternal world and other school and other school

realitiesrealities To stimulate students to participate actively in the life of the European society, To stimulate students to participate actively in the life of the European society,

respecting "diversity" and encouraging a democratic confrontationrespecting "diversity" and encouraging a democratic confrontation To deepen the knowledge of the European cultural inheritance, comparing traditions To deepen the knowledge of the European cultural inheritance, comparing traditions

and and appreciating the cultural differencesappreciating the cultural differences which are at the basis of our common history which are at the basis of our common history and civilizationand civilization

To improve the To improve the knowledge of languagesknowledge of languages through the publication of works written by through the publication of works written by students in English and other European languages. students in English and other European languages.

To promote the To promote the integrationintegration in the European social and cultural context of students who in the European social and cultural context of students who are in disadvantaged conditions and of schools situated in remote geographical areas are in disadvantaged conditions and of schools situated in remote geographical areas and economically depressed.and economically depressed.

Activities managementActivities management The activities have been carried out with laboratory methods.The activities have been carried out with laboratory methods. The students have taken part in journalism workshops, under The students have taken part in journalism workshops, under

the guidance of journalists of the web editorial staff ofthe guidance of journalists of the web editorial staff of LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO, acquiring among other LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO, acquiring among other

things the bases of web writing. things the bases of web writing. A group of students, directed by computing teachers, learned to A group of students, directed by computing teachers, learned to

use programmes for processing images and inserting them in use programmes for processing images and inserting them in the web pages. the web pages.

Contacts with the other schools involved in the project have Contacts with the other schools involved in the project have been been very closevery close and, thanks to e-mails, there has been a useful and, thanks to e-mails, there has been a useful and frequent exchange of opinions and materials. and frequent exchange of opinions and materials.

In the last school year some topics of great interest for students In the last school year some topics of great interest for students have been discussed with classes of foreign schools in have been discussed with classes of foreign schools in chat chat meetingsmeetings during morning classes with the help of the English during morning classes with the help of the English teachers.teachers.

The students, individually or in groups, have made articles, The students, individually or in groups, have made articles, interviews, surveys, with the help of English and Italian interviews, surveys, with the help of English and Italian teachers.teachers.

Impact on Impact on our territoryour territory Many schools of towns Many schools of towns

situated in the inner situated in the inner areas of our region, areas of our region, Basilicata, one of the Basilicata, one of the poorest and isolated in poorest and isolated in Italy, have joined the Italy, have joined the project, seizing the project, seizing the opportunity to enter a opportunity to enter a network of network of communication and to communication and to collaborate, exchanging collaborate, exchanging information and ideas information and ideas with schools from all with schools from all over the world. over the world.

Overcoming cultural diversityOvercoming cultural diversity Matera's on-line newspaper is Matera's on-line newspaper is

completely made by the students of completely made by the students of the schools involved in the project, the schools involved in the project, under the guidance of their teachers. under the guidance of their teachers. They are young people They are young people from five to from five to nineteennineteen who use this place to who use this place to confront and exchange ideas.confront and exchange ideas.

It is a sort of "virtual square" where It is a sort of "virtual square" where the youth from all over the world can the youth from all over the world can meet and debate, overcoming meet and debate, overcoming cultural cultural diversitydiversity. From the collaboration of . From the collaboration of students belonging to different students belonging to different schools there comes out a real schools there comes out a real newspaper, a real editorial staff who newspaper, a real editorial staff who can choose subjects, images, titles of can choose subjects, images, titles of articles. They express their opinions, articles. They express their opinions, carrying out articles dealing with carrying out articles dealing with culture, traditions, habits, culture, traditions, habits, environment, music, sport, politics.environment, music, sport, politics.

Schools and Matera’s newspaperSchools and Matera’s newspaper

MOLMOL

Schools have understood and greatly appreciated the Schools have understood and greatly appreciated the value of the project and have inserted it in their value of the project and have inserted it in their educational activities.educational activities.

So, the on-line newspaper has become So, the on-line newspaper has become an integral part an integral part of the core curriculumof the core curriculum in many schools. in many schools.

The project has created a wide network involving a The project has created a wide network involving a great number of schools, both from Europe and from great number of schools, both from Europe and from other continents.other continents.

Teachers and families alike have noticed a remarkable Teachers and families alike have noticed a remarkable improvement in the students' writing and communication improvement in the students' writing and communication abilities and so they are urging us to go on with this abilities and so they are urging us to go on with this work.work.

The support of LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO, the The support of LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO, the most qualified local newspaper, and the numerous most qualified local newspaper, and the numerous requests arriving from schools all over the world make requests arriving from schools all over the world make us hope for the best in the future development of the us hope for the best in the future development of the project. At the moment we are enlarging more and more project. At the moment we are enlarging more and more the network through contacts with schools situated in the network through contacts with schools situated in France, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Sierra Leone and many other countries.Chile, Egypt, Sierra Leone and many other countries.

MOL = Matera On Line NewspaperMOL = Matera On Line Newspaper

First correspondentsFirst correspondents

First correspondents First correspondents from abroad were:from abroad were:

RumaniaRumania PolandPoland Hungary Hungary

Today’s correspondents are:Today’s correspondents are: Istituto Tecnico Commerciale "Loperfido" – Matera (Italia)  Istituto Tecnico Commerciale "Olivetti" – Matera (Italia)  Istituto di Istruzione Superiore "Isabella Morra" - Matera  (Italia) ITIS "Pentasuglia" - Matera (Italia) Scuola Elementare IV Circolo - Matera (Italia) Scuola Elementare e Media - Istituto Comprensivo - Accettura (MT) (Italia)  Istituto Professionale Alberghiero "A. Turi" – Matera -(Italia) Scuola Media “Ilvento” – Grassano (MT) - (Italia) Scuola Media –Ferrandina (MT) - (Italia) Scuola Media “Nicola Festa” – Matera – Italia Istituto Comprensivo -  Salandra (MT) - (Italia) Scuola Elementare – Ferrandina (MT) – (Italia) Vocational Academy Bilingual Primary and Secondary School of Economics - Győr – Hungary  Zsigmondy Vilmos Secondary School - Hungary  Gymnasium N4 Smorgon – Bielorussia  Technical College “Maria Baiulescu” - Brasov – Romania   Economic College ”Emanuil Gojdu” - Hunedoara (Romania)  High School "Izmir Balcova" - Ephesus (Turkey)   Escola Secundária da Sobreda – Portogallo Grup Scolar Avram Iancu- Sibiu- Romania Kindergarten of Kaparelli – Thiva – Grecia Colegiul National "Stefan cel Mare" - Suceava (Romania) Gimnazjum Numer 47 - Warszawa (Poland) Private Bati Primary and High Schools Semsi Pasa Uskudar - Istanbul (Turkey) Riihenmäki Comprehensive School – Mäntsälä – Finland 34 Nicholas Copernicus Elementary School - Katowice (Poland) Kaunas Santara Gymnazium - Lituania St. Paul's Missionary College - Rabat – Malta Center for Education-Zelenogorsk  (Russia) Lyceum N. - Moudania (Greece)

ARCHIVEARCHIVE

Old articles are not eliminated, but kept Old articles are not eliminated, but kept in an Archive, where they can always be in an Archive, where they can always be consulted. consulted.

They are visible clicking on “Tutte le They are visible clicking on “Tutte le notizie”, in the "Archivio" window.notizie”, in the "Archivio" window.

A precious news database is so A precious news database is so constituted, containing a small constituted, containing a small correspondent’s personal encyclopaedia.correspondent’s personal encyclopaedia.

TopicsTopics Everyone can take Everyone can take

part in the newspaper part in the newspaper with any topic.with any topic.

After a time many After a time many schools showed the schools showed the need to work on a need to work on a specific topic.specific topic.

From time to time we From time to time we indicated some topics, indicated some topics, we constituted a we constituted a survey with (e.g. survey with (e.g. culture, society, culture, society, human rights, sports, human rights, sports, etc.).etc.).

Participants’ age groupsParticipants’ age groups

The project is The project is addressed to addressed to young people young people from 5 to 19. from 5 to 19.

Up to now the Up to now the estimated number of estimated number of participants is of not participants is of not less than 1000.less than 1000.

1000!

The editorial staffThe editorial staff

Editorial staff is Editorial staff is composed by:composed by:

Teacher in charge:Teacher in charge: Maria Teresa AsprellaMaria Teresa Asprella

8 teachers:8 teachers: (Information technology,(Information technology, English language, Italian English language, Italian

language, Technology)language, Technology) 20 students20 students

TransferabilityTransferabilityTransferabilityTransferability The project, if former The project, if former

conditions are verified, is conditions are verified, is totally transferable at any totally transferable at any context, linguistic or context, linguistic or cultural reality.cultural reality.

Our project inspired:Our project inspired: Riihenmäki Comprehensive School Riihenmäki Comprehensive School

Mäntsälä– Finland: ”A Golden School Mäntsälä– Finland: ”A Golden School Day”Day” www.mantsala.fi/sivistys/riihen/schooldwww.mantsala.fi/sivistys/riihen/schoolday.htmay.htm

Videouno Videouno - Matera - Matera www.ilmiotg.itwww.ilmiotg.it

Sustainability and Sustainability and

Our school has provided a small amount of

money to finance the project for the future.

We’ve got some contributions from local

administrations.At the present time our

yearly budget is of about 10.000 €

fundsfunds

AwardsAwards 2001:2001: NETDAYS EUROPE 2001 - fourth place ex NETDAYS EUROPE 2001 - fourth place ex

aequo European Citizenship on the Net aequo European Citizenship on the Net categorycategory

2002: 2002: In 2002 the NEWSPAPER was chosen among In 2002 the NEWSPAPER was chosen among

the 12 best contributions of schools, among the 12 best contributions of schools, among those accepted for the exhibition at TED, the those accepted for the exhibition at TED, the most important Italian meeting about most important Italian meeting about teaching technologies, whose scientific teaching technologies, whose scientific organization is arranged by CNR (NATIONAL organization is arranged by CNR (NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESEARCH) in collaboration with COUNCIL OF RESEARCH) in collaboration with MIUR (MINISTRY O F EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY MIUR (MINISTRY O F EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH)AND RESEARCH)

2003: 2003: CABLE & WIRELESS CHILDNET AWARDS 2003 CABLE & WIRELESS CHILDNET AWARDS 2003

- third place in the school category- third place in the school category 2004:2004: Finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Award Finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Award

2004/education2004/education Winner of the Centoprogetti (One hundred Winner of the Centoprogetti (One hundred

projects) for the innovative use of projects) for the innovative use of technologies in the Public Administration – technologies in the Public Administration – RomeRome

Selected among the finalists in The Global Selected among the finalists in The Global Junior Challenge in Rome.Junior Challenge in Rome.

Noticed problemsNoticed problems

There have been some problems in There have been some problems in the contacts with those countries the contacts with those countries whose access to the Internet is still whose access to the Internet is still very expensive. For example, in very expensive. For example, in some coun tries of the former some coun tries of the former Soviet Union, schools have Soviet Union, schools have some difficulties in finding the funds some difficulties in finding the funds for connecting to the Internet, and for connecting to the Internet, and therefore sometimes they have been therefore sometimes they have been compelled to drop the collaboration.compelled to drop the collaboration.

Impact of the projectImpact of the project

The impact of the project into the targeted community has The impact of the project into the targeted community has been very strong, in fact it has been able to break the been very strong, in fact it has been able to break the traditional isolation in which schools used to work. traditional isolation in which schools used to work.

The students of the various schools involved in the project got The students of the various schools involved in the project got the impression of belonging to a large community the impression of belonging to a large community and even and even parents and families have come closer to the world of the parents and families have come closer to the world of the Internet and informationInternet and information..

This new way of communicating has been greatly appreciated This new way of communicating has been greatly appreciated mainly by the most remote towns, for example those situated mainly by the most remote towns, for example those situated in the inner areas of our region, because it enabled young in the inner areas of our region, because it enabled young people to get in touch with same age people from other parts people to get in touch with same age people from other parts of the world. of the world.

The The visibility visibility offered to the project by LA GAZZETTA DEL offered to the project by LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO has aroused a growing interest also outside MEZZOGIORNO has aroused a growing interest also outside the school community. The local media, press and TV; have the school community. The local media, press and TV; have often talked of the project in a positive way.often talked of the project in a positive way.

EvaluationEvaluationThe experience has been evaluated by the following methods:The experience has been evaluated by the following methods:

questionnaires filled in by students at the end of each year, in order to check the difficulties questionnaires filled in by students at the end of each year, in order to check the difficulties met by them and to receive their proposalsmet by them and to receive their proposals

analysis of the "logbook", to check the attendance of students at the afternoon classesanalysis of the "logbook", to check the attendance of students at the afternoon classes number of articles produced by studentsnumber of articles produced by students participation of schools of the networkparticipation of schools of the network request to join the project on the part of other schoolsrequest to join the project on the part of other schools number of accesses to the sitenumber of accesses to the site acknowledgements and qualified judgementsacknowledgements and qualified judgements obtained in national and international contexts.obtained in national and international contexts.

To know themselves to understand To know themselves to understand each othereach other

The newspaper was first The newspaper was first directed to:directed to:

1) Our Province, then to,1) Our Province, then to, 2) Europe, and now to the2) Europe, and now to the 3) World3) World

Technologies can be an efficient means to overcome geographical limits and to put people in touch.They can offer everybody the possibility to speak and communicate. It is possible, at a relatively low cost, to promote exchange and knowledge among different cultures, religions, traditions.

New schools are welcome!

Technological level of Technological level of correspondent countriescorrespondent countries

Computers and Internet host x 1000 inhab.Computers and Internet host x 1000 inhab.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Computer x 1000 ab. Internet host

Finland Canada Malta

Italia Hungary Poland

Greece Lithuania Russia

Turkey Belarus

Digital divideDigital divide

As you can see, not all As you can see, not all countries are alike and have countries are alike and have the same technological the same technological opportunities.opportunities.

Our newspaper has got a Our newspaper has got a simple , but effective simple , but effective structure, and has as well a structure, and has as well a good diffusion in countries good diffusion in countries with scanty means.with scanty means.

One of the newspaper’s major One of the newspaper’s major objectives is just getting over objectives is just getting over the digital divide.the digital divide.

Possible developmentsPossible developments

Exchanges with Exchanges with schools all over the schools all over the world world

E-twinningsE-twinnings

Thank you!Thank you!

Maria Teresa Asprella: Maria Teresa Asprella: mariateresa.asprella@email.itmariateresa.asprella@email.it

Eustachio Guanti: Eustachio Guanti: eustachioguanti@hotmail.iteustachioguanti@hotmail.it

Liceo Ginnasio “E. Duni”: Liceo Ginnasio “E. Duni”: liceoduni@email.itliceoduni@email.it

Present addressPresent address

The present address is:The present address is:

www.molnews.itwww.molnews.it