ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The handling of the pandemic in Italy has implied, by Decree of 4 March 2020, the interruption of all school activities;one of the most complex and hurtful measures by virtue of its impact on such a vitally important milestone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: As regards to the reopening of schools, for the year 2020-2021, a risk classification model for sector of economic activity, elaborated by INAIL, has been applied, in accordance with criteria of probability of exposure, proximity, mass gathering. The above approach has been adopted by the Technical Scientific Committee established by the Government as support to coordination activities to overcome the emergency. The integrated risk level of the education sector has been rated as medium-low, but its mass gathering risk level is considered to be medium-high. RESULTS: The measures for the reopening of schools have regarded different aspects: Systemic measures (territorial support system, new recruitement of school workers, contact with the NHS, mobility plans);Organisational measures (ex. classroom layout, timetable, consumption of meals);Preventive and protective measures (distancing, disinfection and hand hygiene, use of mask, information and training), Territorial control measures (monitoring of suspected cases, contact tracing, follow-up of absences). CONCLUSIONS: The resumption of school activities has required a complex balance of safeness, students’ and school workers’ well-being, quality of learning contexts and processes, in respect of the Constitutional Rights to Education and Health. It has also represented an opportunity to regenerate the italian school.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The measures taken to combat the pandemic, such as travel restrictions, closed borders and gathering bans, led to cancellations of many conferences, meetings and workshops, forcing the scientific community to identify new ways of disseminating scientific knowledge. This resulted in the transition from traditional face-to-face meetings, where practitioners and academics meet to exchange knowledge, network and develop collaborations, to the development of new events in digital formats. This study aimed at investigating the impact of the spreading of virtual conferences on the field of research. Materials and Methods: We made a SWOT analysis to evaluate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of this new way of organizing scientific conferences, as compared to face-to-face conferences in terms of effectiveness of result dissemination, networking opportunities, and policy development. Results: Among the biggest opportunities of virtual conferences, revealed by the SWOT analysis, there are larger accessibility, equity (in terms of sex, ethnicity, geographical setting, physical ability, health, and career stage) reduced expenses, environmental sustainability and a better work-life balance. On the contrary, reduction in network building and in research capacity/cooperation, lower interest of local stakeholders and “digital exclusion” represent the most important threats. Conclusions: Organizing a virtual conference does not mean concentrating only on the offline or the online side of the event, but rather to integrate the two sides in order to offer the participants the opportunity to choose how to parti