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eTwinning: opportunities for educational innovation and professional development

Anne Gilleran Pedagogical Manager

eTwinning Central Support Service

Anne who?

I have been involved in many projects involving schools, teachers and school leaders

I come from Ireland university lecturer school counsellor head teacher researcher expert in ICT for education

worked in Brussels for the European Schoolnet since 2001

Pedagogical manager for eTwinning since 2005

Topics

1. eTwinning – how it developed 2. The Internet phenomenon 3. eTwinning - a social network 4. Professional development 5. Some 21st century educational

considerations

What is eTwinning?

A Lifelong Learning Programme initiative - within the Comenius action

Launched January 2005

2005-2008 Phase 1

2008-2013 Phase 2

National Support Service

(1 in each country)

Central Support Service.

Run by the European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission

Designed to find partners; create, manage and run school projects

Launched to encourage school collaboration in Europe

eTwinning 1.0 (2005)

What happened in 2005?

The Internet phenomenon

eTwinning was launched

+

Since 2005 February 2004

January 2005

February 2005 October 2006 February 2004.

2006 2005/06

April 2006

1. The Internet has changed

"  Pre 2004 Web 1.x – Passive – Read the news – Retrieve information

Essentially an online encyclopedia

Interactive & Creative Web 2.0

- make the news - publish ideas - create archives - comment on events - communicate

Informal collaboration

Comenius Partnerships

Peer learning

Sharing of resources and ideas

Community building

eTwinning Projects Many things

were happening In eTwinning...

Above... and below the surface

It was time to go beyond eTwinning 1.0

Informal collaboration

Comenius Partnerships

Peer learning

Sharing of resources and ideas

Community building

eTwinning Projects eTwinning had

evolved

Time for eTwinning 2.0

Critical Mass

Communications and networking beyond Projects

Activities outside the Portal

Sharing and exchanging

eTwinning 2.0

eTwinning 2.0

The heart of eTwinning is the portal:

www.etwinning.net

eTwinning Portal 2007

From this

eTwinning Portal – 3 layers

3. The TwinSpace Private project workspace Where project partners and pupils collaborate online Where project work is/can be published and shared online TwinBlog Where project partners share their experience

2. The Desktop

Search tools and profiles Where teachers get in touch and register an eTwinning project Also a tool for communication about events

1.  The Public Portal

Public Information for all Where teachers register for eTwinning Project ideas and kits

www.etwinning.net

Inspiration - Kits

Inspiration - Modules

eTwinning 2.0 eTwinning Desktop

From this

eTwinning 2.0 To this

eTwinning 2.0 Twinspace change

From this

eTwinning 2.0 To this

The evolution of eTwinning 2.0 (2010)

Find each other and get in touch

Set up & run projects with their pupils

Are engaged in informal learning

Share practice and ideas

eTwinning has become a social network

The community for schools in Europe where teachers:

In 23 languages…

eTwinning projects

eTwinning schools

Informal exchange & reflection

eTwinning has become……. eTwinning Learning Events

eTwinning Groups

European Professional Development Workshops

Bi- Lateral workshops

A network providing opportunities for formal & informal Continuing Professional Development (CDP)

21,000 teachers were involved in the formal aspects of CDP through eTwinning in 2009

Educational Considerations in relation to eTwinning 2.0

eTwinning: Shifting Worlds

Formal

Closed

Top down

Teaching

Consumption

Curriculum driven

Informal

Open

Bottom up

Learning

Creation

Life as curriculum

European key competencies

21 Century Literacy

Literacies?

eTwinning helps:

"  To address the challenges of bringing 21 Century skills into your school

"  Utilises Web 2.0 technology to assist the educational process in a safe environment

What else is in it for the school?

Recognition 1 : Quality Labels

(1)  Pedagogical Innovation and Creativity

(2)  Curricular Integration

(3) Collaboration between partner schools (4) Creative use of ICT

(5) Sustainability and Transferability and (6) Results and Benefits

Recognition of quality is based on 7 criteria

National Quality Label

European Quality Label

Visibility

eTwinning Prizes

National Level

European Level

What does this all this mean?

Motivated pupils Motivated teachers Parental support Public recognition for school

Web 2.0 Enablers in education process

Enablers Enthusiasm of children e confidence of teachers (overcome of the isolation of teacher)

Cooperation: the driving force

Working Safely

What next: Challenges for the future

Curriculum

Teaching process Assessment

Web 2.0 embedded in the curriculum

Web 2.0 part of the assessment

In-service training including Web 2.0

Three pillars of education

Why is eTwinning so successful?

48

Rationale for etwinning

Based on the twin concepts of cooperation and collaboration

SIMPLE approach •  Share •  Innovate •  Motivate •  Participate •  Learn •  Exchange

86,000 users

900,000 messages

20,000+ users/day

1,720000 pupils

20,000 projects

eTwinning (2010) – in figures

To be supportive and offer opportunity for professional development

To be connective & non bureaucratic To offer recognition

To have built in quality assurance at national and European level in the form of Quality Labels

eTwinning Continues

And….

It’s still for free!

In education today the roles of pupils and teachers are blurring.

21st Century Learner !

Final reflections -

The 21 century challenges us all to grasp, understand and control the forces of technology.

Technology is only as good as the use we make of it

Thank  you  for  your  a,en.on!  

eTwinning  portal:  www.etwinning.net  

Contacts:  

Anne.Gilleran@eun.org