In August 2011 Paolo discovered to have a severe form of leukemia
When he was first hospitalized he started a long period of treatment.
So he could not attend the school. But only in theory.
Thanks to his family, classmates, teachers and headteacher
A network was created allowing him to attend
the last year of the highschool.
A key role was played by new technologies
that assured him both the right to education
and to health. Thanks to an association
for cancer patients, an IWB was allocated
in Paolo's classroom, provided with a camera
and a microphone. In order to have a good connection
3 parables were installed, one on Paolo's house roof
one on the roof of the school and the third one
on the tower of Municipality building of Arezzo.
Last but not least, Skype usage guaranteed
Paolo's participation in the class activities
Mom: "Coffee?", Paolo "No thanks"
Mom: "Are your teachers all there?"
Paolo: "I think so"
Teacher: "Good morning, guys!"
Paolo: "Are you here for lunch?"
Dad: "I'm coming at around 1.30 PM"
Mom: "Fine, lunch at 1.30 PM!"
Teacher: "Who is present today? Who's not there?"
Teacher: "Alessio, please, can you call Paolo? ...
"...Meanwhile take your literature book..."
"... What have we done last time?"
Paolo: "Hi all!" Students: "Hi Paolo!"
Teacher: "Paolo, do you have your book?"
Paolo: "Yes I do!"
Teacher: "... this is how the phenomenon works..."
"...Paolo, according to you, what is the value of "L"?"
Paolo: "The coordinates, maybe..."
Teacher: ".. not really... WE HAVE TO SHOOT THIS SCENE AGAIN!!!!"
Teacher: "Paolo, look at this..."
Paolo: "Ah, ok, yeah, your're right!"
Teacher: "Paolo, write it down, I'll wipe it now"
Headteacher: "Excuse me I should show how the connection works"
"On the school roof we installed a little parable..."
"... so that we could guarantee a good signal..."
Engineer: "On the roof of the Municipality building we put a signal repeater..."
"... so that we could have a dedicated broadband.."
"... and a direct connection between the school and Paolo's home..."
"...which is 1 km far away from the Municipality building."
Headteacher: "This is Paolo's house, where the connection ends."
Classmate: "During the period Paolo was at home..."
"... each of us has kept in touch with Paolo..."
"... the project was very successful, even though..."
"... there have been some technical problems sometimes..."
"... but the technical staff has promptly solved them.."
"....Paolo could count on the so-called "grandmother's basket..."
"....a folder where all homework and notes were stored..."
"... in case he could not attend the lesson via Skype..."
"... in this way he could always have the program at a hand."
Thanks to chemotherapy and the good result of the treatment
Paolo has been able to come to school ... not only virtually!
Students: "Hi Paolo! Welcome back!"