FirstLife - the civic social network developed by the Social Computing Group of the Computer Science Department of the University of Turin - has restarted its teaching activities in primary and secondary schools in the context of civic education courses.

The aim is to raise awareness among young people on issues of public interest, using digital technology as a tool to amplify the real and to give voice to the specific needs of adolescents, which are often under-represented.

The involvement of schools began in 2016 with the TeenCarTO project, carried out in collaboration with the geography research group of the Department of Culture, Politics and Society; a project that arose from the request of the Turin City Council’s Youth Policies Department to understand the way teenagers live and relate to the territory and urban spaces. This was the start of a process of co-designing the city WITH young people, which is now being channelled into a single platform, called EDU, a large container in which to collect and keep track of all the considerations, analyses and proposals that have emerged, gradually building a collective geography of the city of the teenagers.

The educational paths proposed by FirstLife are structured in teaching modules, each of which is tailored to the needs and expectations that emerge during the initial phases of discussion and knowledge with teachers and students.

These include:

• Moments of in-depth study on emerging themes (sustainability, inclusion, active citizenship, etc.);
• Approach to innovative practices, disciplines and tools, such as the new geography, participatory journalism and civic technologies;
• Direct experience and knowledge of the territory in order to bring out the critical points and potential of the urban context;
• Use of analytical techniques and tools such as mind maps, immersive walks, field analysis;
• Meetings with leading figures from the community and with representatives of public and private territorial realities and institutions offering services for young people.

What emerges from these activities (stories, reflections, critiques, events, etc.) is reported on the participatory mapping of the platform, making the photographic and textual contributions public and available to all citizens; for this reason, another aspect that is taken care of is the quality of the content and the education to a conscious and slow use of the digital tool, as opposed to what happens with mainstream social networks.

At the moment, the Civic and Digital Education courses are ongoing with the Perotti Toscanini Secondary School classes in District 3 and a group of students involved in the PCTO programme of the Social Institute of the Jesuit Fathers in District 2.

Seven classes from the Perotti School are taking part, divided into three different paths, each one focusing on a specific theme: Sustainability for the first and second classes, Female Toponymy for the second classes and Adolescents and the territory for the third classes. District 3, represented by its President Francesca Troise, was involved right from the early stages of defining the activities, demonstrating a strong interest in activating a constructive and proactive dialogue with the young people, who are often under-represented, yet bearers of specific needs and interests, but also of bright ideas and visions for the future of their territory.

Over the next few weeks, the students will meet with local actors and players and, like a small editorial team, will be called upon to return the results of these encounters by producing photographic and narrative reports or by initiating active citizenship processes. The participatory mapping and the tangible results of the activities will be presented at the beginning of June in a public presentation to families, representatives of District 3 and all the stakeholders involved.

At the Social Institute of the Jesuit Fathers we are working with a group of girls and boys from the Classical, Scientific and Sport courses who are participating in the PCTO programme (alternating school-work). We are co-constructing and co-designing an active citizenship course so that their needs and passions can find spaces for expression and satisfaction in the geography of everyday life.

The girls and boys are demonstrating a deep interest in the activities proposed and in the topics dealt with, but more than anything else they are surprising us with the awareness with which they observe their territory and express their needs and aspirations for the future.

Listening to them describe with emotion the maps of everyday life and read the sensations during the immersive walks, observing their curiosity and incredulity in front of the socio-economic and environmental difficulties and hearing their proposals to improve the situation make us more proud day after day to see a conscious and sensitive generation growing up.

We will keep you updated on the next steps, here and on our social channels!