eTwinning: opportunities for educational innovation and professional development
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Transcript of eTwinning: opportunities for educational innovation and professional development
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 Irelanduniversity lecturerschool counsellorhead teacherresearcherexpert in ICT for education
worked in Brussels for the European Schoolnet since 2001
Pedagogical manager for eTwinning since 2005
Topics
1.eTwinning – how it developed2.The Internet phenomenon3.eTwinning - a social network4.Professional development5.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 2006February 2004.
20062005/06
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
Communitybuilding
eTwinning Projects
Many things were happeningIn 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
Communitybuilding
eTwinning ProjectseTwinning had
evolved
Time foreTwinning 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 TwinSpacePrivate project workspaceWhere project partners and pupils collaborate onlineWhere project work is/can be published and shared onlineTwinBlog Where project partners share their experience
2. The Desktop
Search tools and profilesWhere teachers get in touch and register an eTwinning projectAlso a tool for communication about events
1. The Public Portal
Public Information for allWhere teachers register for eTwinningProject 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 projectswith 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 childrene 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?
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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
17000000 pupils
21,000 projects
eTwinning (2010) – in figures
To be supportive and offer opportunity for professional development
To be connective & non bureaucraticTo 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