On May 5, 2025, the SMACT Competence Center in Padua hosted an inspiring event: a conference and hands-on workshop with Gary Stager, a visionary educator and internationally acclaimed advocate of constructionism, the learning-by-making philosophy inspired by Seymour Papert.
The event — “Il futuro si scrive in codice” — was organized by the Department of Information Engineering (DEI) under the Third Mission of the University of Padua. I supported the organization as part of the team behind this initiative. The gathering brought together teachers from across Veneto (and beyond), both in person and online, for an afternoon blending theory and practice.
Gary Stager challenged us to rethink instructionism — centered on sterile fact transmission — in favor of constructionism, where learners “do to understand” and even “invent to learn.” It was a powerful reminder of how students thrive when they actively build meaning through creation.
The seminar was followed by a dynamic hands-on workshop that fused coding and creativity, providing immediately applicable ideas for everyday teaching. This event also served as a vibrant bridge between academia and schools — a perfect embodiment of the third mission and of the shared vision of a future-focused, experimental, and student-centered education.
