PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

Use of TechnologyIn the last 10 years, there have been two different phases of new technologies in schools.In 1997–2000, there was a large investment in computers and software. In the yearsfollowing, efforts were aimed at the technological training of 200,000 teachers throughthe ForTIC. 10Recently, the use of didactic software for teaching different subjects, including Italian,has been widespread. The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with RAI Educational,a state-run educational channel, has set up a website, DivertiPC, which offers learningobjects and educational games created for didactic use in primary school. 11 A researchgroup, National Center for Research, also has been programming didactic software and isthe center of the only Italian library of educational software. 12 Regardless of the relevantinitiatives carried out on a national basis, more students acquire computer competencieson their own rather than at school. 13Role of Reading SpecialistsReading specialists do not play an important role in ordinary instructional activities.They are employed when students with disabilities need help, in reading laboratories, orin projects specifically concerned with reading, although these activities do not occurvery often.Second-language InstructionThere are many foreign students who attend Italian schools. The number of studentswithout Italian citizenship has been increasing. In the 2005–06 school year, foreignstudents comprised 5% of the total school population, although they were not distributedevenly across the country. Sixty-four percent of Italian schools have foreign students,most of whom attend primary school. The fact that 10% of foreign students show learningdifficulties since the first year of primary school has made teachers’ intercultural traininga priority in order to effectively integrate immigrant students into the schools. 14Reading DisabilitiesDiagnostic TestingThe great variety of reading disabilities present in Italy makes screening difficult and resultsunreliable. In particular, 8% of the student population shows reading comprehension andwriting difficulties. In primary schools, the rate of dyslexia has risen to 10%, according toa survey done by the Italian Dyslexia Association. Since 2005, the Ministry of Educationrequests a certified diagnosis in cases of dyslexia to adopt special learning and evaluationstrategies for the entire course of studies. In addition, rehabilitation treatment is arrangedwith the National Health Service.PIRLS 2006 EncyclopediaInstruction for Children with Reading DisabilitiesA 1992 law guaranteed the right of all the students with disabilities to receive an educationand instruction in state-run schools. The policy of the Italian school system is to includestudents with disabilities in the mainstream school system, with the goal of completeItalyTIMSS & PIRLSInternational Study CenterLynch School of Education, Boston College 217