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RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei
NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I

Centro Europe Direct LUPT
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
Direttore responsabile
Editor in Chief
                            Guglielmo Trupiano
                                                        Sommario
Vice-chief editor           Erminia Attaianese
                            Marisa Squillante           Developing novel eco‐friendly biocatalysts
Associated editors          Anna Elvira Arnò            for fuel, plastic and cosmetic industries.
                            Teresa Boccia
                            Mariano Bonavolontà
                                                        pg. 3
                            Carmen Cioffi               di Vincenza Faraco
                            Stefano De Falco
                            Francesca Dovetto
                            Gabriella Duca              Computer mediated communication as a
                            Vincenza Faraco
                                                        means to pursue educational objectives:
Comitato editoriale         Jorgen Vitting Andersen     The Napoli-Bochum e-Tandem
Editorial Board             Francesco Saverio Coppola
                            Chiara Corbo                pg. 9
                            Antonio Corvino             di Amelia Bandini
                            Carmen Costea
                            Filippo de Rossi
                            Pierre Ecochard             Co-Creazione di Valore in Aree Urbane
                            Ana Falù
                            Pier Paolo Forte            Geografiche Marginali: La Valorizzazione
                            Serge Galam                 della Cultura Artigianale come Sorgente di
                            Alessandro Giordani
                            Massimo Marrelli            Social Innovation
                            Milena Petters Melo
                            Heike Munder                pg. 22
                            Christian Nicolas           di Stefano De Falco
                            Giovanni Polara
                            Antonio Rapolla
                            Ines Sanchez de Madariaga   L’innovazione nella governance delle città
                            Massimo Squillante
                            Matthias Vogt               pg. 32
                            Marco Zupi                  di Enrica Rapolla
Comitato di redazione       Antonio Acierno
Editorial Committee         Mariarosalba Angrisani
                            Amelia Bandini              Innovazione, PMI e il Policy Framework
                            Barbara Bertoli             Europeo
                            Roberta Capuano
                            Flavia Cavaliere            pg. 38
                            Bice Cavallo                di Mariarosalba Angrisani
                            Giovanni Del Conte
                            Barbara Delle Donne
                            Maria Esposito              3D models for archaeology
                            Loreta Ferravante
                            Paola Fiorentino            pg. 44
                            Ettore Guerrera
                            Valeria Maiorano            di Angela Bosco
                            Giuseppina Mari
                            Mario Masciocchi
                            Ferdinando Maria Musto
                            Antonietta Maria Nisi
                            Stefania Palmentieri
                            Enrica Rapolla
                            Loredana Rivieccio
                            Maria Scognamiglio
                            Daniela Savy
                            Maria Camilla Spena

Technical Editor            Bice Cavallo

Coordinamento e             Mariano Bonavolontà
produzione editoriale

Art Direction               Valeria Pucci

ISSN 2421-583X                                          In Coperina:
Anno I, Numero 5                                        Immagine dal profilo Twitter della EU Social Innovation
Newsletter tematica di novembre
01-30 novembre

Le opinioni espresse in questa pubblicazione sono esclusivamente quelle degli autori.
La Commissione non è responsabile dell’eventuale utilizzo delle informazioni contenute in tale
pubblicazione. Questa pubblicazione è realizzata con il contributo dell’Unione europea.
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
Developing
novel eco ‐
friendly
biocatalysts
for fuel, plastic
and cosmetic
industries
VINCENZA FARACO
Direttrice della Sezione orizzontale: “Spazio europeo della Ricerca ed
Europrogettazione” del Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di
Napoli Federico II
Professore di chimica e biotecnologia delle fermentazioni - Dipartimento di
Scienze Chimiche Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

          Abstract

          The team of Prof. Vincenza Faraco, within the Industrial, Molecular and Environmental
          Biotechnologies (BIMA) group at the Department of Chemical Sciences of University of
          Naples “Federico II”, is successfully working on development of novel biocatalysts and
          biosystems to produce antioxidants, ethanol, biopolymers and fine/bulk chemicals for
          industrial applications and waste valorization. Novel feruloyl esterases and glucuronyl
          esterases were developed to replace chemical processes for the production of antioxidants
          for the cosmetics with bioconversions based on esterification reactions. In order to
          produce biofuels and high‐added value bioproducts with applications in chemical and
          plastic industries, a toolkit of cellulases, hemicellulases and auxiliary enzymes with
          better performances in hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulose was developed. As well as,
          microorganisms able to ferment C6 and C5 sugars into the target products were identified
          and tested.
SCIENZA

 4

          Coltura di Spirulina - © European Union, 2009 / Source: Sipa Press / Photo: Chamussy Laurent
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
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          The research activities of Prof. Faraco,                      of energy and biochemicals production
          Associate Professor at the Department of                      from renewable sources and for the land
          Chemical Sciences (DSC) ‐ BIMA (Industrial,                   valorisation. ENERBIOCHEM PON01_01966
          Molecular and Environmental Biotechnology)                    is funded by Ministero dell’Università e
          Group‐ of the University of Naples “Federico                  della Ricerca Scientifica in the frame of the
          II”, are focused on development of new                        Operative National Programme Research
          biocatalysts for industrial applications by                   and Competitiveness 2007–2013. Duration:
          both isolation and characterization from                      2012‐2015. UNINA (Prof. V. Faraco) is
          new microorganims (fungi and bacteria)                        leader of WP3 Development of processes
          and metagenomics approaches. She is also                      with high energetic efficiency for industrial
          interested in the improvement of biocatalysts                 transformation of ligno‐cellulosic biomasses,
          for specific industrial applications through                  including waste valorisation. Website: www.
          genetic engineering techniques.                               novamont.com/pon%20enerbiochem/
          At the beginning, her research has been                       BioPolis ‐ Development of green
          focused on laccases, then also on (hemi)                      technologies for production of BIOchemicals
          cellulases,     arabinofuranosidases       and                and their use in preparation and industrial
          pectinases for conversion of lignocellulosic                  application of POLImeric materials from
          wastes and biomasses cultivated on marginal                   agricultural biomasses cultivated in a
          lands into fermentable sugars and for the                     sustainable     way in Campania region.
          production of fuel ethanol, biopolymers                       BioPoliS PON03PE_00107_1 is funded
          and fine/bulk chemicals. More recently, her                   by Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca
          research was also moved towards Feruloyl                      Scientifica in the frame of the Operative
          esterases (FAEs) and glucuronoyl esterases                    National     Programme       Research     and
          (Ges) with applications in cosmetic,                          Competitiveness 2007–2013. Duration:
          pharmaceutical, fuel and food industries.                     2014‐2016 UNINA (Prof. V. Faraco) is the
          Faraco’s labs are equipped with an automated                  coordinator. Website: www.bio‐polis.it
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          workstation consisting of the robots Colony                   BIOASSORT ‐ Improvement of technologies
          Picker QPix450 (Molecular Devices) and                        and tools, e.g. biosystems and biocatalysts,
          Biomek® NX integrated with thermo‐ shaker                     for waste conversion ‐ Organic Fraction of
          and automated sealer (Beckman Coulter) to                     Municipal Solid Wastes (OFMSW) and agro‐
 5
          carry out the manipulation and analysis of                    industrial wastes, Brewer’s spent grain (BSG)
          thousands of microorganisms and enzymes                       and Olive processing      residues (OPR)‐ to
          in an automatic way.                                          develop an assortment of high added value
          Prof. Faraco has a consolidated expertise                     eco‐friendly and cost‐effective bio‐products
          in leading and coordinating national and                      such as ligno‐cellulolytic enzymes, fuel
          international projects. The main projects in                  ethanol (EtOH), lactic acid (LA), polylactic
          which her team is involved are:                               acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates
          OPTIBIOCAT         –    Optimized     esterase                (PHAs). BIOASSORT ‐ grant agreement
          biocatalysts for cost‐effective industrial                    PIRSES‐GA‐ 2012‐318931 ‐ is a Marie Curie
          production. Cooperation Research Project                      Actions People International Research
          funded by European Union in the frame of                      Staff Exchange Scheme. Duration:
          Seventh Framework Programme 2007‐2013.                        2012 – 2016. UNINA (Prof. V. Faraco) is
          OPTIBIOCAT is a Large‐scale integrating                       the coordinator. Website: www.bioassort‐
          project targeted to SMEs ‐ grant agreement                    europe.com
          n° 613868; Duration 2013‐2017. UNINA
          (Prof. V. Faraco) is the coordinator. Website:                One the main research projects coordinated
          www.optibiocat.eu                                             by Prof. Faraco is OPTIBIOCAT. Funded
          ENERBIOCHEM ‐ Integrated agro‐industrial                      by the EU Seventh Framework Programme
          chains with high energy efficiency for the                    (FP7)’s Knowledge Based Bio‐Economy
          development of eco‐ compatible processes                      scheme, the international project has backing
          1      Il prefisso “bio” indica che i combustibili            ai combustibili fossili.
          biocarburanti da biomassa, in contrapposizione
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          © European Union, 2005 / Source: Reporters Press Agency / Photo: Schroeder Alain

          of around €7 million and will run for four                   antioxidants can be used in anti‐ageing
          years. A highly interdisciplinary endeavor,                  products. The antioxidant properties of
          OPTIBIOCAT boasts a diverse consortium of                    cosmetics ingredients can advance a
          16 partners from eight European countries                    cosmetic formula into a premium product
          (Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Finland,                      that will benefit the consumer.
SCIENZA

          Portugal, Italy, Greece and France): 5                       The main end users that will benefit from the
          Universities, 2 Research organization, 8                     OPTIBIOCAT project are the biotechnology
          Small and medium Enterprises and 1 Large                     industry, particularly those working with
 6        Company.                                                     industrial enzymes, and cosmetics sector,
          The OPTIBIOCAT project is focusing on                        as well as consumers, who will have
          production of feruloyl esterases (FAEs) and                  access to products containing natural
          glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) to produce                       ingredients. Beyond this, advantages will
          phenolic fatty esters and sugar esters with                  be yielded for the biofuel, pharmaceutical
          antioxidant activity for the cosmetic industry.              and food industries, which can also profit
          OPTIBIOCAT will develop optimised                            from the newly developed biocatalysts and
          biocatalysts based on FAEs and GEs with a                    antioxidants. Cleaner production processes
          number of desirable qualities, such as higher                will furthermore have a directly beneficial
          operational stability, thermoresistance,                     impact on the environment, eliminating high
          resistance to solvents, yield and productivity.              temperatures, unwanted side reactions and
          The novel enzymes will enable the catalysis                  polluting by‐products. Finally, on a broader
          of reactions so far chemically performed                     scale still, OPTIBIOCAT will contribute to
          allowing more efficient biotransformations                   the objectives of industrial and innovation
          and possibly new reactions. The goal is to                   policy, enhancing the industrial capabilities
          produce an inventory that includes 50 novel                  of the European Union and rendering the
          fungal and 500 novel bacterial esterases.                    economy more competitive and sustainable.
          OPTIBIOCAT will also develop processes
          for the production of FAEs and GEs that                      As a further main research outline, new
          are energy efficient and eco‐friendly. The                   better (hemi)cellulolytic, pectinolytic and
          synthetic capabilities of these enzymes                      accessory enzymes for lignocellulosic
          will be used to produce antioxidants by                      biomass conversion were investigated by
          enzymatic esterification. The OPTIBIOCAT                     Faraco’s team through both purification
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          from new microorganims and metagenomic                       environmental impact by concomitantly
          approaches for ethanol, biopolymers                          absorbing residues and preserving natural
          and chemicals production. A toolkit of                       resources.
          cellulases, hemicellulases and auxiliary                     The economical impact of ENERBIOCHEM
          enzymes with better performances in                          and BIOASSORT projects concern different
          hydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulose was                  sectors: the industrial enzymes sector, the
          developed in the frame of ENERBIOCHEM                        bioplastic sector, the biofuel sector, mainly
          and BIOASSORT projects.                                      for the bioethanol, the most produced
          The main results achieved by Faraco’s                        biofuel worldwide.
          team within ENERBIOCHEM project are: 1
          pectinase, 1 endo‐ glucanase and 1 xylanase                  In order to consolidate the knowledge
          identified, purified and characterized; 1 endo‐              acquired       in    ENERBIOCHEM           and
          glucanase and 1 α‐ arabinofuranosidase                       BIOASSORT projects, Prof. Faraco has
          identified, purified, characterized and                      actively participated at the creation of the
          recombinantly expressed; 4 site directed                     BIOCHAMP aggregation. The BIOCHAMP
          mutants, 1 library of 7000 directed                          aggregation is composed of seven private
          evolved variants and 1 improved variant                      companies, ARCA 2010 cooperative
          of α‐arabinofuranosidase; bioconversion                      society Scarl, BST SPA, BIOCHEMTEX
          processes of pretreated Arundo donax                         SpA (The Mossi & Ghisolfi), CONSORTIUM
          using an enzyme mix containing the home                      SANNIOTECH, Novamont SpA, SAPA SRL,
          developed enzymes.                                           Socratis Scarl, three public research and
          The main results achieved by Faraco’s team                   university institutions, the University of
          within BIOASSORT project are: selection                      Naples Federico II, the National Research
          of 3 cellulase, 1 xylanase and 1 laccase                     Council and the Second University of Naples.
          activity producers fungi and of 1 homolactic                 The mission of BIOCHAMP is to develop a
          bacterium an 1 lactic producer yeast from the                sustainable technology platform that realizes
SCIENZA

          collection of the Brazilian partner; isolation               the full exploitation of renewable biomass
          of new microorganisms from Western Ghat                      and producing ‘green’ is of biochemicals
          region (Kerale, India); optimization of pre‐                 that biofuels.
          treament of Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) and                   BIOCHAMP launched its first industrial
 7
          Newspaper Waste and EtOH and Lactic                          research project Biopolis (Ministry of
          Acid production from BSG via fermentation;                   Education, PON R & C from 2007 to 2013 DD
          identification of the enzymes responsible                    Prot. N. 713 / Ric. 29/10/2010) coordinated
          for xylanase produced by a selected                          by Vincenza Faraco, started on the 1st of
          fungus and a bacterium; saccharification                     April 2014.
          of pretreated BSG and bioconversion of                       The Biopolis project will implement a
          pretreated Newspaper waste by an enzyme                      demonstration plant based on ‘green’
          mix containing in house enzymes.                             processes for the production of biochemicals
          The main end users that benefit from                         from renewable sources outside the food
          the ENERBIOCHEM and BIOASSORT                                chain for use in the chemical and bioplastics
          projects are: the biotechnology industry,                    to replace fossil equivalents.
          particularly the industrial enzymes sector                   The market sectors to which Biopolis is
          (for the production of high value products                   addressed are booming: the field of industrial
          and for the application in textile, laundry,                 enzymes for which it is a global market
          pharmaceutical, dairy, brewer, food and                      estimated at around 4 billion euro in 2015, the
          feed industries); the bioplastic                             bioplastics sector, whose estimates indicate
          industries, for the production of biobased                   an expected increase in about 6.7 million
          polymers from monomers derived from the                      tonnes by 2018, representing an increase
          biomass; the biofuel industry. Moreover, the                 of 400% compared to 2013; followed by
          BIOASSORT project contributes to waste                       chemical products with high technological
          sustainable management providing a raw                       content, covering to date 28% of the sales of
          material at zero cost and having a positive                  chemical products in Europe and represent
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          a market growing exponentially. Another                      convert sugars with high yields obtained in
          target area of the project is the agronomic                  green chemicals‐ and in that the materials
          one, who will benefit from environmentally                   ‐ new technologies for the obtaining of
          friendly cultivation rules that will enable the              biomaterials for various applications such
          improvement of production and restoration                    as films, molded products, adhesives and
          of fertility of degraded agricultural soils.                 foams.
          The Biopolis project will develop key                        Productions with low environmental impact,
          enabling technologies in the field of                        use of renewable resources and the search
          industrial      biotechnology    ‐    catalyzed              for new economic models system developed
          reactions new enzymes / biocatalysts to                      by Biopolis, can be exploited to revitalize the
          convert sustainable biomass into sugars                      chemistry in an environmental crux in our
          and fermentation with microorganisms that                    country.
SCIENZA

 8

          © European Union, 2009 / Source: Sipa Press / Photo: Chamussy Laurent
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
Computer
mediated
communication
as a means
to pursue
educational
objectives: The
Napoli-Bochum
e-Tandem
di AMELIA BANDINI
Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Co-Direttore del Coordinamento di Settore “Politiche linguistiche,
glottodidattica e Multilinguismo”
Dipartimento di Scienze Politiche – Università degli Studi di Napoli
Federico II
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - NOVEMBRE 2015, N. 5 | ANNO I Centro Europe Direct LUPT Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico ...
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                  Abstract

                  This paper describes an e-Tandem project that involved German and Italian foreign
                  language students. The Napoli-Bochum e-Tandem was planned with the aim to give an
                  answer to some problems related to linguistic production in formal learning environments
                  and particularly: to give participants the chance to practice their target language in informal
                  contexts; to enable the combination of formal and informal language learning environments;
                  to satisfy the need of the students for authentic communication. It was designed as a
                  tool to enable computer supported collaborative learning through computer mediated
                  communication. A wiki workspace was created to implement the written collaboration,
                  while the oral conversation took place via Skype. The project was highly structured and
                  was intended to promote learning activities involving the four language skills by means of
                  guided reading and writing tasks and face-to-face e-interaction. The paper outlines the
                  designed activities and shows a selection of them.
LINGUA E LINGUE

10

                  © European Union 2011 PE-EP/Pietro Naj-Oleari
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

                  Introduction                                                   conversational interaction in a second
                  Second language acquisition traditionally                      language forms the basis for the
                  occurs      in    formal    and/or     informal                development of language rather than
                  environments. In adult contexts, formal                        being only a form for practice of specific
                  L2 learning and informal L2 acquisition                        language features (Gass, 2003: 234).
                  influence each other because on the one                      The lack of opportunities for contact with
                  hand formal language instruction has a                       L2 speakers, as is normally the case with
                  positive impact on L2 acquisition (Long,                     traditional courses, can, therefore, be seen
                  1988), and on the other, it is widely accepted               as a limitation in the process of acquiring a
                  that opportunities for communication, both                   foreign language (Cziko, 2004). Moreover,
                  as regards exposure to and production in                     in conventional classes, participants are
                  authentic L2 contexts, enhance the learning                  exposed to a far smaller range of discourse
                  process. In the 1980s, Krashen pointed                       types and to inaccurate non-native L2 output
                  out that acquisition processes should be                     produced by fellow students (Lightbown
                  encouraged through activities that involve                   & Spada, 2006). In the light of these
                  communication, but that students must                        considerations, the idea of improving the
                  be not forced into language production                       learning process of two traditional courses
                  because they produce when they are                           by means of an e-Tandem exchange was
                  ‘ready’, i.e. production is the result of the                conceived of a big challenge. The main
                  acquisition process. On the contrary, Merryl                 aim was to set up an e-Tandem that could
                  Swain stated in 1985 that constant practice                  overcome the difficulties due to the physical
                  helps the learner to be conscious of and                     distance between the learner groups, enable
                  consequently improve his/her production;                     the combination of formal and informal
                  she advocated the need for practice that, in
LINGUA E LINGUE

                                                                               language learning environments and, at the
                  her opinion, had to be seen as an additional                 same time, satisfy the need for authentic
                  learning phase. Swain’s Output Hypothesis                    communication in the formal language
                  (1985) claims that:                                          courses. Moreover, the e-Tandem exchange
                    Second language output may trigger                         could also promote a comparison between
                    certain cognitive processes necessary for                  German and Italian cultural systems. By
                    second language learning. Negotiation                      means of interacting with native speakers,
11
                    of meaning is able to help this process                    participants could compare, in fact, their
                    because by becoming consciously aware                      own culture with that of their fellows, and this
                    of one’s own production, output can serve                  could help them to improve their acquisition
                    the metalinguistic function of helping to                  of the cultural dimension of the society
                    internalize linguistic forms (Swain, 1985:                 speaking their target language.
                    128).
                  In this sense, the corrective feedback                       In-tandem learning
                  that takes place during interactions in the                  It is well known that in-tandem learning
                  second language, mostly that arising from                    occurs when two learners of different
                  negotiation of meaning with native speakers,                 native languages work together sharing the
                  provides opportunities for language learners                 common objective of learning from each other
                  to focus on specific linguistic forms and thus               (Brammerts, 2001). It was first employed
                  may lead to language learning (Long, 1996).                  in face-to-face situations, where pairs of
                  The value of interaction between native and                  learners shared the same physical space,
                  non-native speakers was also highlighted                     but the advances in technology –especially
                  several years later by Susan M. Gass, who                    those concerning the Web 2.0 – have created
                  stressed the importance of conversation in                   opportunities for foreign language learners
                  the process of language learning:                            located in different countries and linked via
                                                                               various forms of electronic communication,
                   Conversation is not only a medium of                        to work together and thus to experience
                   practice, but also the means by which                       a more authentic interaction than that
                   learning takes places. In other words,                      which is available in the classroom. This
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

                  context enables Synchronous Computer                           [...] stresses collaboration among the
                  Mediated Communication (SCMC) via                              students [...]. The learning takes place
                  Voice over Internet Protocol and chats,                        largely through interactions among
                  and asynchronous Computer-Mediated                             students. Students learn by expressing
                  Communication (CMC) via mail, documents                        their questions, pursuing lines of inquiry
                  sharing etc.                                                   together, teaching each other and
                  Whether as in-presence activitiy or CMC, in                    seeing how others are learning. (Stahl,
                  tandem learning presents two main features                     Koschmann, and Suthers., 2006: 2)
                  that we believe are fundamental in order                     Since e-Tandem activities stress intensive
                  to enhance not only language but also                        collaboration and interaction between
                  general learning competences: it is a form                   students who want to achieve the common
                  of collaborative work and, at the same time,                 goal of improving their language, learning
                  it triggers autonomy.                                        becomes a collaborative and social activity
                  First of all, since every form of in-tandem                  that promotes the skills of active problem
                  learning can be seen as a form of collaborative              solving and critical thinking.
                  learning (Telles & Vassallo 2006a), an                       The second great opportunity that e-Tandem
                  e-Tandem project, where interactions                         activities can offer to participants is the
                  between individuals are effected by means                    acquisition of autonomous learning skills.
                  of computers, can be considered as a                         While in traditional courses the learning
                  form of Computer-Supported Collaborative                     phases are scheduled by the teaching
                  Learning (Stahl, Koschmann and Suthers,                      staff that not only provides feedback but
                  2006) and in this sense it offers creative                   also tests and assesses learning, in the
                  activities of intellectual exploration and                   case of in-tandem learning, participants
LINGUA E LINGUE

                  social interaction. In fact, it:                             have the opportunity to negotiate and

12

                  ©European Parliament/Pietro Naj-Oleari
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

                  decide autonomously when/for which                              are normally completely autonomous,
                  amount of time and which topic to work on                       considering that students were accustomed
                  together and assess by themselves their                         to teacher-directed learning activities and
                  improvements or their lack of competences.                      referring to other e-Tandem proposals,
                  Thus, in-tandem learning can be considered                      such as for example the Seagull Tandem2,
                  a tool for achieving autonomy in the sense                      tutors created a “Wiki e-Tandem” supported
                  described by Holec (1979) and Little (1991),                    by topic sheets suggesting topics and
                  since the participants have to take control of                  containing learning tasks whose aim was
                  and responsibility for their own learning. In-                  to develop oral and written activities. The
                  tandem learning can, in this sense, increase                    activities were not scheduled by the tutors
                  the learners’ sensitivity to the way the                        with the aim to encourage a sense of
                  target languages work and, consequently,                        responsibility in the participants, as stated
                  can be a tool for raising students’ general                     before.
                  metalinguistic awareness and ability to                         By means of a wiki software 3 it was created
                  regulate both the language learning process                     a dedicated workspace. A wiki software
                  and the use of target language skills                           provides opportunities as regards writing
                  and knowledge outside the classroom,                            and sharing texts and other materials.
                  i.e. for achieving autonomy. It should be                       Participants may read, add, modify and
                  stressed that the acquisition of “autonomy                      remove not only texts, but also photos,
                  by learning” or “learning to learn” – as                        links, videos and what they do was stored
                  the competence to pursue and organize                           in the section “page history”, where it
                  one’s own learning, either individually or                      was possible to check the changes. In my
                  in groups, in accordance with one’s own                         opinion, a wiki software is comparable
LINGUA E LINGUE

                  needs, and awareness of methods and                             to the white board tool of Windows Live
                  opportunities1 – plays nowadays a key role                      Messenger used in “Teletandem Brasil”4
                  in European educational strategies, since                       because it gives the partners analogous
                  it is one of the eight key competences of                       working opportunities but, in addition, it is
                  strategic importance for lifelong learning,                     provided with a permanent visual record that
                  and European educational institutions are                       allows them to reconstruct all interventions
                  encouraged to integrate it into their own                       and subsequently to reflect on partners’
13
                  strategies.                                                     use of the language, and to increase their
                                                                                  own language awareness. Furthermore, it
                  The Napoli-Bochum e-Tandem project                              is possible to express opinions about what
                  The project was integrated into the curricular                  other participants post in the dedicated area
                  courses both on the Italian and on the                          “comments”.
                  German sides, and some incentives were                          The wiki-based project was designed as a
                  included in order to increase the likelihood                    technological tool to support collaborative
                  of success (achievement of ECS credits for                      learning and knowledge building, and
                  Italian students and reduction of homework                      to encourage social acts that could also
                  for the German ones). The integration played                    lead to individual learning. The workspace
                  a key role in improving the learning process                    was available only to the group of learners
                  of the participants, above all in the case of                   that worked on it with the aim to create a
                  basic language users, because they need                         ‘community’ within which the participants
                  more linguistic explanation than advanced                       working in pairs could develop the topics of
                  ones and teacher guidance can help them                         their interest, and make their work accessible
                  to reflect on their linguistic mistakes better                  to all participants who could read, comment
                  than explanations of native-speaker fellows,                    and eventually “steal” vocabulary, sayings
                  whose expertise is normally based on a non-                     etc. This helped to promote a sense of
                  conscious competence.
                  Even if in-tandem language learning activities                  2         http://seagull-tandem.eu/
                                                                                  3         http://www.pbworks.com/
                  1         http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/educa-         4      http://www.teletandembrasil.org/home.asp?New-
                  tion_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11090_en.htm             LangID=5
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                  belonging to a group whose members                            structured. Initially, tutors invited, via e-mail,
                  worked together and helped each other.                        the candidates to join the workspace.
                  As already mentioned, differently from other                  On the front-page of the workspace, the
                  e-Tandem/Teletandem projects, working                         participants could find explanations on work
                  activities in our workspace were highly                       modalities. Directions were written in Italian
LINGUA E LINGUE

14

                  Figura 1: Explanations on work-modalities written in German and in Italian
                  and in German because the learners needed     believe that a comparison between different
                  to focus on the content (instructions) and    linguistic codes can facilitate the process
                  not on the form (language) of the message.    of learning a foreign language. In order to
                  (Fig. 1).                                     encourage self-reflection, the participants
                                                                were asked to self-assess their language
                  As it happens in the majority of e-Tandem competences on the basis of the Common
                  exchanges, participants were required to fill European Framework of References (CEFR)
                  out questionnaires which were used by the grid.
                  tutors to form the pairs. The learners were While the participants waited for the pairs
                  asked to provide personal data, to say how to be formed, they had to browse the
                  they mastered electronic communication workspace and to create a personal page
                  tools, if they had already experienced to introduce themselves to the group. This
                  a wiki software, which expectations of phase was considered a warm up, and, in
                  the e-Tandem experience they had and this way, each participant became familiar
                  if they had any particular preferences as with the software and its features. It was
                  regarded their partners. By means of the particularly interesting the fact that, in some
                  questionnaires, tutors also tried to help cases, learners made use of this phase to
                  learners to become conscious of their get in touch directly with fellow participants.
                  various language competences since they An example is the case of R.A. (Italian) and
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

                     R.A.
                     Page history last edited by R. A. 3 months ago
                     Hallo !!
                     Ich bin R.A.! Ich bin 20 Jahre alt.
                     Ich komme aus Italien und ich wohne in Pozzuoli (bei Neapel).
                     Ich liebe Musik und Kunst. Ich besuche die Museen sehr gern und ich liebe reisen, um andere Kulturen
                     kennenzulernen.
                     Eines Tages hoffe ich, bei der UNESCO zuarbeiten.

                     Hallo, I am R,A., I am 20 years old.
                     I come from Italy and I live in Pozzuoli nearby Naples.
                     I like music and art. I like visiting museums and travelling, with the aim to meet and experience other
                     cultures. I hope in my future I will work for the UNESCO
LINGUA E LINGUE

                     Comments (3) Delete all comments
                     S.S. said
15                   at 10:07 pm on Oct 28, 2013
                     Reply Delete
                     Ciao R.
                     mi chiamo S.S., sono di Kojsnjak in Iraq, sono iracheno ma vivo in Germania. Io studio filosofia (corso
                     di studi: Master di filosofia) all’ università die Bochum. Abito in un piccolo appartamenta in centro a
                     Colonia con mia moglie e ho trentanove anni. Parlo tedesco, poco inglese, arabo e apprendo adesso
                     italiano.
                     Hallo R.
                     I’m S. S., I am from Kojsnjak in Iraq, I’m Iraqi but I live in Germany. I attend the master in Philosophy
                     at the University of Bochum. I live in a small flat in the centre of Köln with my wife. I am 39. I speak
                     German, a little bit of English, Arab and now I’m learning Italian.

                  Figura 2: R.A. has created his personal page with his presentation and S.S, decides to introduce
                  himself on the comment section of R.A.’s page the page.
                  S.S. (German): R.A. created his personal                       another folder in the same section in which
                  page with his presentation and S.S. decided                    we invited pairs to publish their work-in-
                  to introduce himself not on a personal page,                   progress pages.
                  but on the comment section of R.A.’s page                      We established nine topics:
                  (Fig.2):                                                           1. I Introduce a well known person from
                  By browsing the workspace, the participants                     		 my country
                  also discovered the topics and the related                         2. My holidays
                  learning activities prepared by the tutors.                        3. Spare time
                  They were posted in a dedicated folder in the                      4. Studying abroad
                  “Navigator” section. We had also prepared                          5. How do I spend my day?
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                      6. What do we eat?                                        communicative situations previewed at
                      7. The flat where I live                                  level A1/A2 of CEFR in mind, but, of course,
                      8. Shopping                                               each of them could be adapted for different
                      9. Festivities                                            language levels.
                  Each topic had its worksheet with guided                      The learning activities were divided into
                  tasks. The topics were selected with the                      two stages, and the first stage was further

                    1st stage

                    Title                 How did you spend your holidays?

                                          You have to plan your next vacation. Your partner wants to find out about
                    Situation             your last holidays.

                    Suggestions for working in e-Tandem
                    1st phase: create a wiki page
                    Write in your mother tongue on a wiki page an Email to a travel agency asking for a travel deal.
                    Explain where you want to go, when, for how long, and where you would like to stay overnight
                    (hotel, bed and breakfast, apartment…)
                    2nd phase: VoIP Session.
                    It is composed of two parts, each one devoted to one language. Languages must not be mixed
                    (Vassallo, Telles, 2006: 5)
                    Describe your Holidays in your target language. Were they funny? Where were you? Where did
                    you stay (hotels, camping ...)? How was the weather? Your partner will ask you questions in
LINGUA E LINGUE

                    his/her mother tongue.
                    3rd phase: write a text in your target language with the help of your partner
                    What did your Tandem partner do during her/his holidays? On your wiki page, write a text in
                    your target language, which summarizes the information that you got during the VoIP session.
                    Express your opinion about the way your partner has spent her/his holidays. Ask your partner
                    to improve your text.

16                  2nd stage

                    Now, we ask you to reflect on the work you have done. Here are described the goals, language
                    activities and grammar skills, that the tasks you carried out should have developed.
                    Then, fill in the PORTFOLIO that you find in the Navigator! It is important to develop your
                    awareness in the learning process!

                    Intercultural goals                                        Sharing travel experiences

                                                                               Describe places, indicate positions. Ask for
                                                                               and give information and opinions. Express
                    Functions                                                  likes and dislikes. Plan a journey.

                                                                               Adverbs and prepositions of place and time.
                    Grammar                                                    Simple past tense, present perfect tense.

                  Figura 3 The worksheet “My holidays”

                  subdivided into three phases (fig. 3). As in                  together. They had the possibility of applying
                  the “front page”, directions were posted in                   the steps suggested in the worksheets or
                  each worksheet in both languages, German                      agreeing autonomously on other learning
                  and Italian.                                                  activities. It was also possible to work on
                  Once the participants had been paired up,                     other topics according to their preferences;
                  they selected topics and worked on them                       the participants were allowed to act freely in
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                  order to promote the process of acquiring                    and text peculiarities as well. The phase was
                  autonomy.                                                    intended, on the one hand, to be a simple
                  In the first phase of the first stage, the                   and unintimidating way of beginning the
                  participants worked asynchronously. They                     work and as a means of improving reading
                  were required to create a new wiki page                      skills and autonomous in-depth reflection
                  expressly dedicated to the selected topic                    on the target language, and on the other, as
                  on which they had to post a text in their                    training/preparation for the second phase,
                  native language. As a consequence,                           the face-to face session via Skype.
                  each participant had at his/her disposal                     Different types of text were proposed with
                  a text written in his/her target language                    the aim to give participants the opportunity
                  by a native speaker. This was the phase                      of being exposed to various text types;
                  devoted to reading comprehension and                         they were asked to write descriptive/
                  to the widening of vocabulary. Learning                      narrative/argumentative texts or e-mails.
                  activities were thus focused on acquiring                    In the “Holidays” worksheet shown before,
                  vocabulary, syntax, idiomatic expressions,                   for example, the participants were asked

                                     Your partner is coming to Naples as an Erasmus student or as a tourist. What
                   Contest           can s/he do in her/his spare time and where? Where can s/he practice sport?
                                     How much does it cost? Where do young people meet up? What do they do?

                   Suggestions for working in e-Tandem
                   1st phase:
                   Before the VoIP session:
                   Create a wiki page in which you tell your partner in your mother tongue what you do in your spare
LINGUA E LINGUE

                   time, if you practice a sport and if you have to pay something to do it. Add photos or movies,
                   suggest links to websites! Tell her/him also what you would do in your spare time in Bochum.

                  Figura 4: Extract from the worksheet Spare Time

                  to write an e-mail to a travel agency, while                 points of conversation, which were intended
                  in the “Spare time” they were required to                    to lead to an amplification and diversification
17                describe their spare time activities, as                     of the topic. In the case of the worksheet
                  shown in (Fig. 4).                                           “Spare time”, the first step of which has
                  In the second phase, the participants worked                 been shown in Figure 4, our discussion
                  on their oral competences. They ‘met’ via                    proposal was the following: Explain to your
                  Skype and conversed in their target language                 partner locations and costs to practice her/
                  on the topic on which they had already                       his favourite activities in Napoli/Bochum.
                  worked in the first phase. The conversation                  Propose something else to do.
                  was made easier by the fact that they had                    In the third phase, the activities were
                  already worked on the topic. Each participant                designed to develop writing skills. The
                  had to speak in his/her target language and                  participants worked asynchronously; they
                  had to help his/her partner by providing                     had to post a text on the wiki page written in
                  feedback. As happens in traditional face-to-                 their target language in which they summed
                  face Tandem meetings, the time available                     up and made observations on what their
                  was divided equally between the languages                    partner had spoken about during the Skype
                  following the “first Tandem principle:                       session or on the text, he/she wrote in the
                  languages must not be mixed” (Telles                         first phase. Furthermore, they had to help
                  and Vassallo, 2006: 5). We suggested the                     their partners by editing and/or commenting
                  use of Skype as a tool of communication,                     on his/her text. Once again, taking as an
                  but the participants were allowed to use                     example the above-mentioned topic sheet
                  whichever means they preferred, the only                     “Spare time”, in this phase we suggested
                  prescription being that a written chat facility              that the learners write a text with personal
                  should be available in the case of failure of                comments on their partner’s favourite
                  comprehension. We provided some starting                     activities.
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                  By means of working on the proposed                             things that are generally difficult to buy.
                  topics, the participants also dealt with                        Therefore, it is worthwhile to look at such a
                  another culture, because they, consciously                      market in any case.
                  or unconsciously, compared their own                          As mentioned above, each worksheet was
                  with their partners’ way of life, as shown                    divided into two stages. In the first, the tasks
                  by the following example that is an extract                   described above were scheduled, while the
                  of a written exchange between two girls,                      second was aimed at promoting a focus
                  M. (Italian) and J. (German), who share a                     on form. Each participant was required to
                  common love for things from the past but                      reflect on the e-Tandem activities in terms of
                  pursue it differently:                                        the (un)successful relationship with his/her
                    M.: I like to walk around my town and re-                   partner and of the achievement of linguistic
                    visit the most beautiful sites. In the spring               and cultural objectives, as well. In this way,
                    together with a friend of mine, I ask for                   learners had the opportunity to become
                    information about guided tours in Naples                    aware of whether their learning process
                    and in this way, I find many stories about                  had succeeded or failed somewhere
                    our city that I did not know before.                        and, consequently and in the light of this
                    J.: What you can easily do especially in the                reflection, to plan their further activities
                    summer in Bochum is a walk through our                      consciously and autonomously. It has been
                    flea markets. I love flea markets, because                  stressed, in fact, that learner autonomy in
                    there you will find, if you are lucky, one                  (e)-Tandem contexts should mean not only
                    time or another really great treasures and                  that learners must decide on and be clear
LINGUA E LINGUE

                   Reflection
                   Following the suggestions, reflect on the work performed in e-Tandem
                   1st PHASE
                   In the first phase, I performed the following activities, with the aim of being able to carry out the VoIP
                   phase:
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Did I learn something new? Yes         No
                   What
18                 _______________________________________________________________________________
                   2nd PHASE: VoIP SESSION
                   What was especially difficult during the VoIP session?
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Did my partner help me, as I would have expected? Yes            No
                   Why
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Was there something particularly wrong in my output?
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Did I learn something new? Yes         No
                   What
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   What would I like to improve or do differently in the next VoIP meeting?
                   ___________________________________________________________________________

                   3rd PHASE
                   In the 3.rd phase, I wrote a text in my target language on ….
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Was there something particularly wrong in my output?
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Did I learn something new? Yes         No
                   What
                   ___________________________________________________________________________
                   Did my partner help me, as I would have expected Yes          No
                   Why

                   Figura 5: Second Stage: focus on form
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                  about their goals and their preferred means     negotiate content and tone synchronously
                  for achieving them, but also that they must     and collaboratively; error correction is less
                  have the ability to monitor and evaluate their  frequent and more superficial than in written
                  learning process (O’Rourke, 2007) (Fig.5).      exchanges and it occurs only in order to
                  The focus-on-form was planned to                favour flow of communication. If this is
                  highlight the learners’ perception of their     disturbed or denied, participants need to
                  own improvements in the target language         modify immediately their output in order to
                  competence and their own ability to             be understood properly by their interlocutor
                  articulate personal learning objectives.        (Bower and Kawaguchi, 2011), while when
                  Participants were asked to share their          they write a text they have a lot of time to
                  reflections with the group or to send them      think carefully on their production. In any
                  privately to the tutors. In the case that they  case, the opportunity to have a partner’s
                  posted their reflections on the website, they   immediate feedback and, moreover, to see
                  could receive metalinguistic explanations       the partner – even if partially in case of
                  not only from their partner, but also from      tele-communication (Leone, 2009) – and
                  other colleagues. Furthermore the analysis      thereby experiencing his/her paralinguistic
                  of the focus-on-form sheets gave the tutors     communication, is, in my opinion, very
                  the possibility to stress on individual needs   important as regards language acquisition.
                  and thus to personalize their teaching          At the end of the project, the participants
                  strategies in the formal courses.               gave some feedback, and it appears that
                                                                  they generally had no difficulties with the
                  Conclusions                                     proposed electronic tools and that they
                  By means of the Napoli-Bochum e-Tandem, enjoyed the e-Tandem experience. Above
LINGUA E LINGUE

                  I attempted to offer something new and all they appreciated the possibility to work
                  original in the context of computer assisted closely via computer with native speakers/
                  in-tandem learning. With regard to in- expert of their target language, who were in
                  tandem learning, activities were designed their same learning situation. This removed
                  to be integrated into my curricular course in some psychological obstacles that may
                  order to involve in them also basic language occur while interacting in a foreign language.
                  users.                                          The mix of oral and written e-activities gave
19
                  Electronic in-tandem language learning the possibility to extend the participation
                  normally promotes oral or written activities, to a greater number of students. The
                  but in the “Napoli-Bochum e-Tandem” beginners, in fact, appreciated above all the
                  were included both opportunities. This writing activities because of their long-term
                  was possible thanks the combination retrospective availability, while the advanced
                  of text production on a wiki workspace ones preferred the oral interaction because
                  and oral conversation via Skype. Writing they thought it as a unique opportunity to
                  and speaking are in fact in my opinion converse with native language users.
                  complementary. Writing encourages critical I think that the following feedback can
                  reflection because learners –specially adult summarize our results very well:
                  learners- reflect easier on language when         M.: The work done through the project
                  they are distanced from it, which is not easily   “e-Tandem” gave me the opportunity
                  accomplished in speech (O’Rourke, 2007).          to improve my language skills. I learned
                  But oral interaction with native speakers         to express myself in German on topics
                  plays also a very important role in language      of everyday life, although using very
                  acquisition, both to verify and to reflect on     simple linguistic expressions. We have
                  personal competences, as stated by many           had some difficulties, because to hold a
                  scholars (Krashen, 1981; Swain, 1985; Gass,       conversation in a foreign language when
                  2003). During a conversation in a foreign         you are not proficient always causes
                  language communication strategies differ a        nervousness, but my partner always
                  lot from written text exchange. When the pairs    helped me. The project brings us to
                  converse, they co-construct meanings and          relate to peers and this is reassuring.
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                    Participation in this project was truly an                 pp.25-39.
                    enriching experience. I hope to continue                   Gass S. M. (2007) Input and Interaction, in
                    the exchanges with my partner even after                   C. J. Doughty and M. H. Long (eds.) The
                    the end of the project. I have already                     Handbook of Second Language Acquisition
                    discussed about this with my partner                       4., Blackwell, Malden USA, pp. 224-255.
                    Julia. Her goal is to learn Italian, my goal               Krashen S. D. (1981) Principles and Practice
                    is to learn German!                                        in Second Language Acquisition, English
                  Finally, the wiki software was also a source                 Language Teaching series, Prentice-Hall
                  of reflection for the tutors. On the one hand                International London.
                  the opportunity to re-construct the ‘history’                Holec H. (1979) Autonomie et apprentissage
                  of written texts gave us the possibility to                  des langues étrangères, Editions du Conseil
                  consider written production as example of                    de l’Europe, Strasbourg.
                  the interlanguage of the participants and to                 Leone P. (2009) Comunicazione mediata
                  evaluate their improvements in the use of                    dal computer e apprendimento linguistico:
                  linguistic patterns in their second language.                gli incontri Teletandem, in Studi di
                  On the other hand the analysis of feedback                   Glottodidattica 1, pp. 90-106
                  typologies as markers of different learning                  Lightbown P. M. and Spada N. (2006) How
                  styles acted as a stimulus to improve the                    languages are learned, Oxford University
                  interaction modes between teachers and                       Press, New York.
                  learners and, consequently, the didactic                     Little D. (1991) Learner autonomy 1:
                  approach in the classroom.                                   Definitions, issues and problems, Authentik,
                                                                               Dublin.
                                                                               Long M. H. (1988) Instructed interlanguage
LINGUA E LINGUE

                  References                                                   development, in L. Beebe. (ed.) Issues
                                                                               in second language acquisition: Multiple
                  Brammerts H. and Little D. (2001) Leitfaden                  perspectives, Newbury House, Rowley,
                  für das Sprachlernen im Tandem über das                      pp.115-141.
                  Internet, in: H. Brammerts and D. Little (eds)               Long M. H., (1996) The role of the linguistic
                  Manuskripte zur Sprachlehrforschung 52                       environment in second language acquisition,
                  Elektronische Version Brammerts Seminar                      in R. C. William and T. K. Bhatia (eds),
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                  für Sprachlehrforschung Ruhr-Universität                     Handbook of language acquisition, Vol. 2,
                  Bochum.                                                      Second language acquisition, Academic
                  Brammerts        H.     (2001)    Autonomes                  Press, New York, pp. 413–468.
                  Sprachenlernen im Tandem: Entwicklung                        Mullen T., Appel C. and Shanklin T., (2009)
                  eines Konzepts,,in H. Brammerts and                          Skype-based Tandem Language Learning
                  K.    Kleppin.     (eds.)   Selbstgesteuertes                and Web 2.0, in M. Thomas (ed.) Handbook of
                  Sprachenlernen im Tandem: Ein Handbuch.,                     research on Web 2.0 and Second Language
                  Stauffenburg Verlag, Tübingen, pp. 9-16.                     Learning, Information Science Reference,
                  Byram M., Gribkova B. et al. (2002)                          London, pp. 101–118.
                  Developing the intercultural dimension in                    0’Rourke       B.    (2007)   Models       of
                  language teaching. A practical introduction                  Telecollaboration: eTandem, in R. O’Dowd
                  for teachers, Language Policy Division                       (ed.) Online Intercultural Exchange: An
                  Directorate of School, Out-of-School and                     Introduction for Foreign Language Teachers,
                  Higher Education, DGIV, Council of Europe,                   Multilinguals Matters LTD, Tonawanda N.Y.
                  Strasbourg, retrieved from: http://www.                      14150, pp 41-61.
                  coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/source/guide_                       Stahl G., Koschmann, T. and Suthers, D,
                  dimintercult_en.pdf ((Last accessed June                     (2006) Computer-supported collaborative
                  2015).                                                       learning: An historical perspective, in K. R.
                  Cziko G. A. (2004) Electronic Tandem                         Sawyer (ed.). Cambridge handbook of the
                  Language Learning (eTandem): A Third                         learning sciences, Cambridge University
                  Approach to Second Language Learning for                     Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 409-426,
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                  CSCL_English.pdf (Last accessed June                         Telles J. A. &Vassallo M. L. (2006) Foreign
                  2015).                                                       language learning in- tandem: Theoretical
                  Swain M. (1985) Communicative Competence:                    principles and research perspectives, in The
                  Some roles of Comprehensible Input and                       ESPecialist, Vol. 25(1), pp. 1-37.
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                  in S. Gass and C. G. Madden (eds.) Input                     language learning in- tandem: Teletandem
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LINGUA E LINGUE

21

                  Immagine dal sito http://ec.europa.eu/languages/index_en.htm
Co-Creazione
di Valore in Aree
Urbane Geografiche
Marginali:
La Valorizzazione
della Cultura
Artigianale come
Sorgente di Social
Innovation
di STEFANO DE FALCO
Resp. Ufficio Trasferimento Tecnologico e Direttore del CeRITT (Centro di
Ricerca sulla Innovazione ed il Trasferimento Tecnologico) Università degli
Studi di Napoli Federico II
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

                    Abstract

                    Technological innovation is now a paradigm present in all areas, but its contextualization in
                    the evaluation of her social effects, has only recently been addressed in scientific debates
                    and has become the subject of scientific literature prerogative sciences social.
                    The real scenario, observing real data, however, shows that there is now a critical mass of
                    bottom up initiatives, that are pulsed by the, so-called, active citizens, that are available
                    and industrious citizens involved in environmental, social, cultural, id est, territorial
                    redevelopment.
                    These actions became effective if they are not isolated actions and “anarchist”, but already
                    initially based on a close collaboration with the institutions, appointed to lead and coordinate
                    these processes often parallel and sometimes converging. And then we can talk about
                    social innovation.
                    In this scenario, the culture, especially that of handicraft can combine old and new, tradition
                    and innovation, can be the catalyst for such processes of social innovation.
CITTÀ E TERRITORI

23

                    Filatura di un tappeto tradizionale sardo, Nule. © European Union, 2014 / Source: AFP-Services
                    ,EC - Audiovisual Service / Photo: Fabi Tiziana
RISE - Rivista Internazionale di Studi Europei - ANNO I, NUMERO 5 • 2015 • ISSN 2421-583X

                    1. Introduzione                                               alcuni profili professionali, quali quelli dei
                    La competizione globale sta rafforzando                       giovani artigiani innovatori, può risultare
                    sempre di più il paradigma di un’economia                     mera referenziazione, ma, lo dice anche
                    basata sulla conoscenza, su cui è basata la                   Cicerone nel suo “De Oratore” res e verba
                    strategia europea, e tale scenario ha aperto                  devono essere sempre bilanciate e dunque
                    un dibattito scientifico intorno al tema del                  e giusto che le esternalità positive di tali
                    dualismo tra sviluppo tecnologico e ruolo                     figure vengano valorizzate e promosse.
                    della prossimità geografica. Le tesi di                       Doppia la valenza dell’iniziativa: un primo
                    partenza, poi alla fine negate, che avevano                   obiettivo perseguibile risiede nella volontà
                    caratterizzato il dibattito riguardavano                      di voler rimuovere un vincolo culturale
                    la possibile decrescita di importanza                         che penalizza, anche sotto il solo profilo
                    della prossimità geografica in un’epoca                       psicologico, molti brillanti giovani, soprattutto
                    caratterizzata dalla ampia disponibilità di                   laureati e dottori di ricerca, in base al quale
                    tecnologie di trasmissione e condivisione.                    chi trova occupazione in ambiti artigianali
                    Tuttavia se risulta vero lo statement che la                  lo fa percorrendo, così come spesso in
                    trasmissione dell’informazione risulta ormai                  letteratura di settore è teorizzata, la “via
                    caratterizzata da un basso costo marginale,                   diversa”! Invece la tesi da difendere e da
                    tale condizione non risulta verificata nella                  valorizzare è che in un momento di crisi come
                    trasmissione della conoscenza, soprattutto                    quello attuale in cui spesso, per i giovani, è
                    con riferimento a quella che la tassonomia                    più facile trovare occupazione in ambiti di
                    della      innovazione     classifica     come                nicchia, come quello artigianale, il bagaglio
                    “conoscenza tacita”, dove il costo marginale                  anche teorico e di ricerca che rappresenta
                    risulta crescente al crescere della distanza.                 il valore dell’offerta giovanile, può senza
CITTÀ E TERRITORI

                    Pertanto risulta evidente l’attualità della                   dubbio, trovare applicazione speculativa
                    prossimità geografica ed il ruolo che i fattori               in tali ambiti. Un secondo obiettivo
                    di localizzazione assumono nei processi                       dell’iniziativa và ricercato nella funzione
                    di innovazione del territorio e tra questi                    sociale dell’artigianato con riferimento
                    sicuramente rientra la sua identità, il suo                   alla sua potenzialità di riqualificazione di
                    spiritus loci, che trova nel settore artigianale              aree marginali e depresse, nelle quali tale
                    una delle fondamenta su cui strutturarsi.                     funzione può risultare strumentale al fine
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                    Lodevoli le iniziative che spesso vengono                     di sottrarre molti giovani altrimenti dediti
                    intraprese per valorizzare le professionalità                 ad attività illecite e criminali, con l’ulteriore
                    artigianali, ma peccano spesso della                          corollario positivo di rendere tali aree soggetti
                    sporadicità che le caratterizza non riuscendo                 attivi che possono e devono concorrere
                    così a delineare una roadmap che abbia un                     all’incremento della capacità innovativa dei
                    continuum temporale che possa essere da                       territori, ed in particolare alla diffusione della
                    guida al percorso dei (soprattutto) giovani                   social innovation e non essere più iconizzate,
                    artigiani.                                                    come avvenuto spesso in passato ad opera
                    Un tentativo di rendere permanente                            di una certa letteratura di rappresentazione,
                    la valorizzazione delle professionalità                       ad elemento di solo interesse di studio
                    artigiane giovanili con forte propensione alla                sociologico.
                    innovazione tecnologica, è stato avviato dalla
                    AICTT (Associazione Italiana Cultura per il                   2. Social Innovation: un frame di insieme
                    Trasferimento Tecnologico) che ha siglato                     Sebbene il concetto di innovazione
                    un protocollo di intesa con Confartigianato                   sociale sia antico quanto il genere umano
                    per l’istituzione di un albo dei soggetti                     (Simms, 2006), solo di recente esso è
                    operanti in ambito di attività artigianali ma                 stato inserito come elemento di studio
                    che si contraddistinguono per impiego di                      delle scienze sociali. Mentre nei dibattiti
                    modelli, metodologie e tecniche innovative e                  scientifici presenti in letteratura di settore,
                    che stringono rapporti di collaborazione con                  con riferimento alla tecnologia si è assistito
                    il mondo della ricerca. E’ vero che attestare                 ad un notevole sviluppo del concetto di
                    con delle declarations delle capacità di                      innovazione, l’idea di innovazione sociale
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