Francesca Caprino

Francesca Caprino is a Researcher at the National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research (INDIRE) in Florence, Italy. Her primary research focuses on Special Educational Needs, school inclusion, and Universal Design for Learning, with additional expertise in educational robotics, play theory, and assistive technologies. She has contributed to national and international projects such as the 'Avanguardie Educative' initiative exploring formal/non-formal learning linkages and the creation of the BES portal for special education resources.

Her work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to inclusion, including multisensory environments in early childhood education and robot-assisted play for children with disabilities. Caprino has published extensively on topics like spatial inclusion, outdoor education, and historical analysis of Italy's educational policies. She coordinates large-scale educational projects while advocating for accessible digital resources and play-based assessment tools.

Notable contributions include the Digital Collection Indire project promoting open educational resources and research into risky play's role in inclusion. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in schools and community settings, emphasizing cultural-historical contexts in policy development.