Elements of eTwinning – Pupils participation in projects– Teacher recognition

Dr. Riina Vuorikari & Anne Gilleran

eTwinning Central Support Service

European Schoolnet SIRikt 2011

Over to you (Kliker question 1)

• Network of 31 European Ministries of Education

or other national education authorities

• Created in 1997 and based in Brussels

• Mission: to bring about innovation in teaching

and learning through the use of new technology

in schools

European Schoolnet

Active in European wide projects and

programmes, e.g.

• eTwinning, a community for schools in Europe

www.eTwinning.net

• iTEC, Designing Future Classrooms

www.itec.eun.org

• Acer-EUN Educational Netbook Pilot

www.netbooks.eun.org

European Schoolnet (EUN)

This presentation will look at:

eTwinning and project-based learning

Giving learners a central role

Teachers recognition

Over to you (Kliker results on question 1)

eTwinning - the community for schools

Since 2005

Promotes teacher and school collaboration through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Lifelong Learning Programme under Comenius

National Support Service:http://www.cmepius.si

In Slovenia

799 eTwinners

680 projects

more than average of teachers’ participation

eTwinning Platform

eTwinning - Keep it Simple

Schools start projects with a partner – Pupils from 4 to 19 years

No money involved– No paper work nor applications!

Any topic - use of ICT to make it happen– From very basic use of email to more

elaborated use of video, skype, ....

More than 132’262 teachers!They love it because it offers:

A safe laboratory to test innovative pedagogies– e.g. project based pedagogy (

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project-based_learning)

Sharing practices and ideas with colleagues across bordersAcquiring new skills in ICT, language learning, project management– An informal way to learn 21st century skills, not

through training and workshops!

Over to you (Kliker question 2-3)

Some background…..

25 case studies, were carried out by the

National Support Services (NSS) between May and November 2010 on pupils’ active participation

From monitoring tasks in 2010

Pupils’ active participation - 25 cases

Looked at active interactions: 1. with the teacher(s) 2. with their classmates 3. as well as with their project partners (pupils)

By interviewing teachers: Working at primary and secondary education

levels Teaching in different subjects Experienced teachers and eTwinning

teachers

The case studies examined

Enablers + Challenges

Technological or ICT related

Non Technological

The findings (1)……

How does pupils’ active participation take place?

The focus is on the day to day tasks of a project

Typical’ choices: which part of a city to take a picture of, which issue to be discussed with correspondents at a distance, which calendar to be implemented for the tasks to be performed, etc.

A contribution to the design of the project itself is rare

In some cases, pupils are reported not to be interested in the planning and organizational aspects of a project

1. Interaction with the teachers

In general teachers spoke about a more relaxed and fruitful relationship, e.g.

Teachers let the pupils show them how to use ICT based equipment or

Let them be in the pilot seat when using it

Pupils are reported to be less reluctant to ask support from the teacher on how to proceed to solve content or organisational related issues

Results from eTwinning Camp 2011

Central Message:

“the teacher becomes the one you learn with”

1. Interaction with the teachers

The findings (2)……

2. Active participation with classmates

ICT related enablers:

show case the

achievements to the

school, parents, local

community, etc.

Non ICT related enablers (project based pedagogy)

Pupils more responsible, e.g able to (re)organise the way they workgood sense of solidarity

An observation: highly differentiated participation reported

Pupils’ busy schedule

Curriculum constraints

The pressure of examinations

Technical problems

Challenges :

A strong message coming from teachers was……

The tendency is to design next eTwinning projects building on previous experience in pupils’ participation, and then to go one step further

Few teachers have been trained in this type of class management, cooperative learning between peers, etc.

Over to you (Kliker results question 2-3)

Results from eTwinning Camp 2011

Central Message Teachers need more training and support on ‘how to give the pupils a central role’

2. Active participation with classmates

The findings (3)……

3. Active participation with project partner pupils

Non ICT related enablers

subjects discussed in line with pupils’ day to day areas of

interest

Exciting for pupils to enter into contact with ‘real’ young people, living in a different country (emotions, associated with curiosity)

ICT related enablers

Comparison as a heuristic tool: direct exchange between young people living in another context but nevertheless sharing similar concerns

Foreign language learning: no other way to provide it at a low cost, under such a simple format and associated with such a high level of emotional engagement

Challenges:

Pupils’ insufficient level of proficiency in foreign languages or ICT skills

Too great a difference sometimes in the number of pupils in each partner class to create a direct matching

(close bilateral personal relationships between two partner pupils needed)

3. Active participation with project partner pupils

Central Message

‘it gives the pupils knowledge and experience that the teacher could not provide them with by any other means’

3. Active participation with project partner pupils

The findings (4) on recognising teachers’ time and input in projects

Over to you (Kliker question 5)

Vuorikari (2010)How does eTwinning and teachers’ professional development interact?Country cases studies on successful eTwinning countrieshttp://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/news/publications/etwinning_public_reports.htm#i1922

Central Message

eTwinning can nicely compliment the offers of any national teachers’ professional training programme with its informal and formal learning opportunities

4. Recognising teachers’ efforts in projects

Over to you (Kliker results question 5)

Thank you!

Make sure to visit the eTwinning booth!

Have a very successful conference

See you in eTwinning :)