On the first day of my visit to Istituto Omnicomprensivo D.Alighieri in Nocera Umbra,at 9:00 am on 27 May 2024, I received the schedule of the first and the second day. It startedwith a Physics class, which was a preparation for an oral test in Physics and a student was giving a presentation related to the charge by induction. After his presentation I asked a similar question and then, after my explanation about connecting the isolated metal sphere to the ground while charging it by induction and using a second sphere instead. It was interesting for them, and we continued with more discussion concerning that topic. Later they continued with another presentation related to the functions in Mathematics and the application of derivative sketching the graph of functions. I realised that they study more theoretical concepts in detail and higher-level Mathematics than we do in Hungary. The second class on the first day was a visit to the science lab where the teacher and a lab assistant did a dissection of a fish and students watched its organs under the microscope. The explanation was in Italian, and a student was translating it into English.

Then it continued with a double lesson in electronics for 12 graders where they have a preparation for the oral test of the mature exam. That was another higher-level subject that had no equivalent subject in Hungarian HS curricula. There were applications of complex fields in the study of electrical circuits, and they needed to know how to sketch the phase and modulo graph in a coordinate system and the definition of sine and cosine in terms of complex exponential functions.

The first lesson started at 8:15 on 28 May 2024 with a Physics class, as a practice class solving exercises in freely falling. The air resistance was considered negligible and only in the presence of gravitational force the relation between height and time, height and final velocity, and time and final velocity were discussed through basic problems.

In the second slot, there was a basic math class where students were solving rational equations and inequalities using a table of signs. Ten minutes before the end of the second slot, all students evacuated the building as a part of regular practice in a fire emergency.

In the third slot, there was an electronics subject where students were studying digital design and modelling the system based on zero and one state and priorities.

The most important part of this job shadowing program was the visit to the robotics lab and the electronics lab. Two teachers and three students described how they used their robotics lab to motivate the students. They showed the process of using the robots which were located in a cage not to harm the visiting students while turning around and grabbing or releasing the objects.

In the electronics lab, they had many opportunities to do the PLC programming and determine the inputs and outputs to see the result of their coding as a mechanical movement.

As a cultural programme, I visited the historical and cultural places in the nearby region such as Assisi, Perugia, Foligno, and Gubbio.

Robot desined by the students

The host school organised a visit to the University of Perugia for foreign students. It was located in the historical part of the city with an old building. I had a meeting with the orientation service centre and they showed all parts of the university.

On the last day of my visit, a history teacher held a history class in English and talked about an Italian famous writer, Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Seneca the Philosopher). Then I said goodbye to all the teachers that I had joined their classes and labs. I received the certificate of attendance for this job shadowing program and came back to AIC the next day.

I had a good experience at their electronics and robotics labs, and we may provide similar labs at AIC. All the teachers, the school principal, and the Erasmus coordinator were very kind and helpful. Last but not least, I deeply appreciate all the help and support of AIC and Mr. Steve’s kind help before and during this Erasmus trip giving helpful suggestions and information for all parts of the program.

Written by: Abdorreza Panahi

31. May. 2024.