Out of the Net” aims to prevent early school leaving through a new pedagogical methodology developed on a strong and innovative socio-psycho-pedagogical basis to address a new problem in society: Hikikomori syndrome. More and more students are leaving school not because of learning difficulties, but because of emotional, communication and behavioral problems. The genesis of these problems is related to Internet addiction and virtual reality. It is easy to imagine the consequences of this addiction in building a personality, the ability to face problems instead of detaching from reality and hiding in the network.
These processes will be supported by psychologists, teachers, experts, and activities will be carried out using very innovative tools, such as art in every dimension, robotics and continuous stimulation of self-recognition. The project aims to create a model that will prevent social problems and prevent them from becoming inevitable. Therefore, through the activities of the project, students will tackle emotional, communication and behavioral problems that can lead to early school leaving, and develop transversal competences, knowledge and attitudes that will help them achieve better academic performance. “Out of the Net” is therefore aimed at the prevention of hikikomori syndrome. The syndrome – first identified in Japan – is on the rise in all developed countries.
The main symptom of hikikomori syndrome is social withdrawal, which leads to early school leaving. A young man affected by Hikikomori begins to avoid all social contact and is confined to his bedroom, with few face-to-face contacts also with family members, maintaining only virtual interaction via the Internet. Hikikomori social withdrawal is multifactorial and is often associated with a perceived inability to cope with face-to-face social interactions. As research shows, withdrawal is gradual and is associated with perceptible social pressure to assimilate to certain superficial values. Hikikomori are looking for a way to express their vulnerability, but in the past they have received/perceived a refusal from the social context, so they prefer to hide in online life.
“Out of the Net” aims to prevent social withdrawal, a model of multidimensional educational intervention, covering all social institutions: schools, extracurricular activities and families. Prevention should begin during primary school years when personality and social skills are developing to sustain children’s development. The project aims to train teachers to use teaching strategies that strengthen the social skills of their students aged 8 to 13.
“Out of the Net” wants to prevent social withdrawal through a socio-psycho-pedagogical method that promotes real group interactions, creating a relational environment where everyone can express their personal potential and strengthen social skills.
