Educational trends in Italy are investigated and case studies are presented of experimental courses in communications at five secondary schools. The study is arranged in five chapters. The first chapter examines the relationships among the creative process, the cultural context, and socio-economic influences. The second chapter presents the framework within which the main lines of innovation have developed. Topics discussed are basic assumptions of educational innovation, particulars of secondary schools in Italy, difficulties encountered with new knowledge and new practices, and factors which cause the new information to be adopted. Five case studies are presented in the third chapter. Each case study includes description of the course, objectives, content and organization of the experiment, and an assessment. The schools hosting the experimental courses are located in Rome, Milan, Lombardy, and Reggio Emilia. The courses deal with the languages and codes of communication technology, mass communication, the environment, school community relationship, and data processing. Chapter four discusses the relationship between machines and men in the Italian educational system, followed by presentation of summary and conclusions in chapter five. Factors identified as contributing to educational innovation are willingness to change objectives and experiment. Factors hindering change are traditional methods, social confusion, and divergent expectations. (Author/DB)