Gifted

University of Bari Aldo Moro

The University of Bari, founded in 1925 and named after Aldo Moro in 2008, is the oldest and largest of the universities in Puglia. It is traditionally considered the place dedicated to higher education and research, but it also aims at dialogue with society. Contributing to social, cultural, and economic development, it is called to be a bridge with industry, civil society, and the territory that hosts it. It has also been promoting international scientific cooperation for years through academic agreements with universities worldwide. Its educational offerings embrace all disciplinary areas except Engineering and Architecture, which have been merged into the Polytechnic of Bari since 1990.

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Eleonora Faggiano

Associate Professor in Mathematics Education

Eleonora Faggiano is currently Associate Professor in Mathematics Education at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy). She obtained her master’s degree in Mathematics in 1999, the Qualification for High School Teaching in Mathematics and Physics in 2001, and her PhD in Computer Science in 2005, discussing a thesis on e-learning and educational technologies with application in mathematics education. Her main research interests concern: the use of digital technologies, and their synergy with manipulatives, to construct shared mathematical meanings in the classroom; methodological and technological resources to foster teachers’ collaboration and professional development; teacher professional development concerning mathematics and STEAM; the connection between the National INVALSI standardized mathematics tests and the teaching practices at primary and secondary school level.

Roberto Capone

Researcher at the University of Bari

Roberto Capone is Chemistry Engineer, Mathematician and Psychologist, PHD in Mathematics, Physics and Applications. Currently, he is a researcher at the University of Bari. He is involved in teacher training courses for teachers in Italy on the competency-based teaching of mathematics. He is a member of the Italian Commission for the Teaching of Mathematics (CIIM) and of the National Council of "Licei Matematici" His main research interests are Methodological and Technological Innovations for Resources for Mathematics Education, Lesson study for teachers professional development, Interdisciplinary Education.

University of Cagliari

Founded by Philip III of Spain in 1620, the University of Cagliari was born with four teachings: Theology, Laws, Medicine, Philosophy and the Arts. The gradual growth of the university led to its current configuration in 6 Faculties and 17 Departments, which constitute the operational nuclei of the university organization in charge of achieving the primary objectives of the university: research and teaching, serving the high need for innovation required by today's knowledge society. With more than 24,750 enrolled students, 37 bachelor's degree programs, 34 master's degree programs and 6 single-cycle programs, 30 graduate schools, 15 doctoral programs, and 12 active master's degree programs, the University of Cagliari ensures an important contribution to the higher education of young people who choose to study in Cagliari and for the entire island community.

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Maria Pietronilla Penna

Full Professor in General Psycholog

Maria Pietronilla Penna is Full Professor in General Psychology at the University of Cagliari. She is mainly involved in the investigation and assessment of brain functions and cognitive processes in life span. Her research on cognitive psychology focuses on visual processes, the representation of memory and knowledge, and the understanding of learning and reading. In fact, his research activities follow a multidisciplinary line. Currently, major research topics include working memory, visuospatial metacognition, to e- learning, learning disabilities, communication psychology, cyberbullying, new technologies and the psychology of aging. She is the author of books and scientific publications in national and international journals on various research topics.

University of Parma

The University of Parma is one of the oldest state universities in Italy. An institution with a thousand-year history, starting from the 19th century it began a path of growth and evolution that is still uninterrupted today. With a pool of about 25,000 students, 1,800 between teaching researchers and administrative technical staff, it offers a wide and varied training offer, capable of investing in research and ever closer to the demands of the employment world.

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Dolores Rollo

Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology

She is Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Neuroscience Unit of the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Parma, she also leads the Reception and Inclusion Centre, and she is the Rector's Delegate for the University Psychological Counselling Service. She teaches Developmental Psychology and Educational Psychology in the Bachelor's degree courses in Psychological Sciences and Techniques and in Education and Training Processes. She also teaches Psychology of Cognitive and Socio-Affective Development in the Master's degree course in Psychobiology and Cognitive Neuroscience. She is part of the scientific committee of several journals on developmental and educational topics and she is a full member of the Italian Association of Psychology (Developmental and Educational Psychology section), and of the Italian Association for Research and Intervention in the Psychopathology of Learning (AIRIPA). She is the author of books and scientific publications in national and international journals. Among her main research topics is the experimental verification of the effectiveness of educational methodologies (e.g., music and mindfulness workshops) carried out within school contexts to enhance cognitive and socio-emotional competencies and student's well-being.

Associazione Kangourou Italia

The non-profit association 'Kangourou without Borders' was founded in Strasbourg in 1994 with the participation of 9 nations: France, Belarus, Hungary, Holland, Poland, Romania, Russia, Italy and Spain. The statute was registered in Paris on 17 January 1995. Italy was represented by the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, which was already responsible for organising the Mathematics Olympiad. In 1999, the Kangourou Italia project began to develop thanks to the commitment of Angelo Lissoni, who decided to devote himself entirely to the development of this project, working in agreement with the Mathematics Department of the University of Milan.The Kangourou Italia Cultural Association is supported in its scientific work by a Scientific Committee, composed as follows:

- Prof. P. Causin (University of Milan)

- Prof. G. Bini (University of Palermo)

- Prof.ssa L. Capelli (retired lecturer at the Liguria Regional Directorate)

- Prof. S. De Stefano (retired lecturer at the University of Milan)

- Prof. G. L. Forti (retired lecturer at the University of Milan)

- Prof. M. Gobbino (University of Pisa)

- Prof. P. Causin (University of Milan)

- Prof. G. Bini (University of Palermo)

- Prof.ssa L. Capelli (retired lecturer at the Liguria Regional Directorate)

- Prof. S. De Stefano (retired lecturer at the University of Milan)

- Prof. G. L. Forti (retired lecturer at the University of Milan)

- Prof. M. Gobbino (University of Pisa)

- Prof. A. Lissoni (President of the Kangourou Italia Cultural Association)

- Prof. E. Maluta (Politecnico di Milano)

- Prof. A. Rossi (retired teacher Liceo Leonardo di Brescia)

- Prof. C. Zanco (retired lecturer at the University of Milan)

Today, the constantly expanding AKSF Association has come to incorporate over 70 nations (for information and documents see http://www.aksf.org). In a nutshell, Articles 2 and 3 of the Statutes of Kangourou without Borders read as follows:

- Article 2: the primary aim of the Association is the dissemination of a basic mathematical culture among young people, the game-contest being only a means to this end;

- article 3: the means that can/should be used for this purpose are the competition texts, the publication of books/articles, posters, CDs, games in various forms...

Kangourou Italy has created many opportunities for young people and teachers to meet, launching initiatives that have since been adopted by other nations. These include: the individual national finals enriched by lectures of general interest and preceded by regional semifinals at various university venues, and team competitions for primary and secondary schools.

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Angelo Lissoni

President

Angelo Lissoni was born in Monza (MB) on 29 April 1949. He graduated in the Liceo Scientifico Statale 'Paolo Frisi' in Monza in 1968. A mathematics graduate from the Department of Mathematics via Saldini at the University of Milan in 1968, he graduated with a thesis on the 'logic of trivalent connectives' on 14 July 1972. In 1972 he was admitted to the 68th AUC course and served in the military as a Complementary Officer in Milan at the Perrucchetti barracks. Married to Chiara, he has 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren. Winner of the national competition for professorships announced by Ministerial Decree 5/5/1973 for both the mathematics class at high school and the teaching of mathematics and scientific observations at secondary school. In the three-year Computer Science course, he taught mathematics from 1973 to 2006 at ITIS Hensemberger in Monza. With Sandro Salsa, he wrote two volumes for teaching mathematics in Computer Science courses and laboratories. A member of the didactic research group at Bocconi University, he has published articles on games in the magazine 'Lettera Pristem' published by Bocconi itself. He proposed and coordinated the Bocconi 'International Mathematical Games Championships'. Responsible for the team at the international final in Paris, member of the International Committee and translator of the texts of the first phase and the final. He was a lecturer at LIUC in Castellanza for 9 years then at SILSIS of the State University for Informatics. Since 1999, he has been the Italian head of the 'Kangourou' mathematical competition, in agreement with the University of Milan, taking over from Roberto Dvornicich of the Scuola Normale di Pisa. In recent years, the 'Kangourou of Mathematics' has grown from the initial 2,500 entries to over 84,000 entries from 1,100 schools in 2019. From 2005 to 2017, he coordinated the "Kangourou of the English Language" competition, which has had the University of Cambridge as its scientific partner for the past five years. For the two competitions, he writes, translates, typesets and publishes many works on mathematics and beyond. Angelo Lissoni is president of 'Kangourou Italia', a cultural association and publishing house at the same time. A member of the Kangourou World Board from 2018 to 2023, he organised the world meetings of the Kangourou Association without Borders in 2002 and 2022 (5 to 9 October 2022 with 285 participants from over 90 countries). The Kangourou competitions are recognised in MIUR's Roll of Excellence.

CTS Ferrara

Ferrara's Territorial Support Centre (CTS) based at IC 5 Dante Alighieri in Ferrara is a service 'of the school for the school', where teachers with specific training and/or experience work with partial or total dispensation from teaching. The CTS carries out the following activities:

- it supports schools in the province in the identification and purchase of teaching aids concerning the resources made available by the Ministry of Education; (University of Milan)

- It provides information and training for teachers, pupils and families on technological resources and issues for school inclusion and for fighting bullying and cyberbullying;

- carries out support and in-depth study activities on specific disabilities with particular reference to activities related to the inclusion of students with autism, also through "Help Desk" actions;

-organises collections of good practices and research, design and experimentation activities on school inclusion and the prevention of bullying and cyberbullying.

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Pasqualina Fazio

Teacher at UST Ferrara and CTS

Pasqualina Fazio is a teacher currently assigned to UST Ferrara and CTS (support centre for new technologies) in Ferrara. She has a degree in electronic engineering and is licensed to teach electronics/electrotechnics in secondary schools. She is working on guidance, methodology and didactics for DSA and BES at the Ferrara CTS.

Maria Antonietta Difonzo

Teacher and coordinator of the CTS

Maria Antonietta Difonzo, is a teacher and coordinator of the CTS (Centro di Supporto Territoriale Nuove Tecnologie e disabilità) in Ferrara. A primary school support teacher, she has been working in the field of technology and didactics for disabilities her whole career. She carries out training and consultancy activities for the CTS of Ferrara. She is also the Tutor of the Indirect Traineeship in the TFA of Ferrara.