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 21 st century educational considerations

What is eTwinning?

A Lifelong Learning Programme initiative - within the Comenius action Launched January Phase 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 /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 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

The heart of eTwinning is the portal:

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

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 pupils 21,000 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. 21 st Century Learner 21 st 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 attention! eTwinning portal: Contacts: