eTwinning: opportunities for educational innovation and professional development

1. eTwinning:opportunities for educational innovation and professional development Anne Gilleran Pedagogical Manager eTwinning Central Support Service

2. Anne who? I come from Ireland university lecturerschool counsellorhead teacherresearcherexpert in ICT for education worked in Brussels for the European Schoolnet since 2001 I have been involved in many projects involving schools, teachers and school leaders Pedagogical manager for eTwinning since 2005

3. Topics • eTwinning – how it developed • The Internet phenomenon • eTwinning - a social network • Professional development • Some 21st century educational considerations

4. What is eTwinning?

5. Launched January 2005 A Lifelong Learning Programme initiative - within the Comenius action 2005-2008 Phase 1 2008-2013 Phase 2

7. Central Support Service. Run by the European Schoolnet on behalf of the European Commission National Support Service (1 in each country)

8. eTwinning 1.0 (2005) Launched to encourage school collaboration in Europe Designed to find partners; create, manage and run school projects

9. What happened in 2005? eTwinning was launched The Internet phenomenon +

10. Since 2005 February 2004 April 2006 January 2005 February 2004. October 2006 February 2005 2006 2005/06

11. 1. The Internet has changed • Pre 2004 Web 1.x • Passive • Read the news • Retrieve information Essentially an online encyclopedia

12. Interactive & Creative Web 2.0 - make the news- publish ideas- create archives- comment on events- communicate

14. eTwinning Projects Many things were happening In eTwinning... Above... and below the surface Informal collaboration Comenius Partnerships It was time to go beyond eTwinning 1.0 Peer learning Sharing of resources and ideas Community building

15. eTwinning Projects eTwinning had evolved Critical Mass Informal collaboration Comenius Partnerships Communications and networking beyond Projects Peer learning Activities outside the Portal Sharing of resources and ideas Sharing and exchanging Community building Time for eTwinning 2.0

16. eTwinning 2.0

17. eTwinning 2.0 The heart of eTwinning is the portal: www.etwinning.net

18. eTwinning Portal 2007 From this

20. eTwinning Portal – 3 layers • 2. The Desktop • Search tools and profiles • Where teachers get in touch and register an eTwinning project • Also a tool for communication about events • The Public Portal • Public Information for all • Where teachers register for eTwinning • Project ideas and kits • 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

21. www.etwinning.net

22. Inspiration - Kits

23. Inspiration - Modules

24. eTwinning 2.0 eTwinning Desktop From this

25. eTwinning 2.0 To this

26. eTwinning 2.0 Twinspace change From this

27. eTwinning 2.0 To this

28. The evolution of eTwinning 2.0 (2010) Beyond school projects

29. eTwinning has become a social network Find each other and get in touch The community for schools in Europe where teachers: Share practice and ideas Are engaged in informal learning Set up & run projects with their pupils In 23 languages…

30. eTwinning schools eTwinning projects

31. eTwinning has become……. A network providing opportunities for formal & informal Continuing Professional Development (CDP) eTwinning Learning Events eTwinning Groups European Professional Development Workshops Bi- Lateral workshops 21,000 teachers were involved in the formal aspects of CDP through eTwinning in 2009 Informal exchange & reflection

32. Educational Considerations in relation to eTwinning 2.0

33. eTwinning: Shifting Worlds Formal Informal Closed Open Top down Bottom up Teaching Learning Consumption Creation Curriculum driven Life as curriculum

34. European key competencies

35. 21 Century Literacy

36. Literacies?

37. 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

38. What else is in it for the school?

39. Recognition 1 : Quality Labels Recognition of quality is based on 7 criteria • Pedagogical Innovation and Creativity • Curricular Integration (3) Collaboration between partner schools (4) Creative use of ICT (5) Sustainability and Transferability and (6) Results and Benefits

40. National Quality Label

41. European Quality Label

42. Visibility

43. eTwinning Prizes National Level European Level

44. What does this all this mean? Motivated pupils Motivated teachers Parental support Public recognition for school

45. Web 2.0 Enablers in education process Cooperation: the driving force Enablers Enthusiasm of children e confidence of teachers (overcome of the isolation of teacher) Working Safely

46. What next: Challenges for the future Web 2.0 embedded in the curriculum Curriculum Three pillars of education In-service training including Web 2.0 Teaching process Web 2.0 part of the assessment Assessment

47. 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 48

49. eTwinning (2010) – in figures 86,000 users 21,000 projects 17000000 pupils 900,000 messages 20,000 users/day

50. eTwinning Continues To be connective & non bureaucratic To offer recognition To be supportive and offer opportunity for professional development To have built in quality assurance at national and European level in the form of Quality Labels