ETWINNING- A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM Author Cornelia Melcu, Şcoala Gimnazială Nr. 9 ,,Nicolae Orghidan” Braşov [email protected]Abstract The article is a brief presentation of eTwinning Portal. eTwinning is a free educational platform for school staff ( teachers, librarians, head teachers, etc.). eTwinning action is a part of Comenius, the EU programmes for schools, programme included in the Lifelong Learning Programme. It promotes school collaboration through the use of Information and Communication Technologies by providing tools, services and support for schools. Key Words Educational programme, ICT, school project, collaboration, etwinning 1
Transcript
ETWINNING- A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM Author Cornelia Melcu, Şcoala Gimnazială Nr. 9 ,,Nicolae Orghidan” Braş[email protected]
AbstractThe article is a brief presentation of eTwinning Portal. eTwinning is a free educational platform for school staff ( teachers, librarians, head teachers, etc.). eTwinning action is a part of Comenius, the EU programmes for schools, programme included in the Lifelong Learning Programme. It promotes school collaboration through the use of Information and Communication Technologies by providing tools, services and support for schools.
Key Words Educational programme, ICT, school project, collaboration, etwinning
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ETWINNING- A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM
AbstractThe article is a brief presentation of eTwinning Portal. eTwinning is a free educational platform for school staff ( teachers, librarians, head teachers, etc.). eTwinning action is a part of Comenius, the EU programmes for schools, programme included in the Lifelong Learning Programme. It promotes school collaboration through the use of Information and Communication Technologies by providing tools, services and support for schools.
Key Words Educational programme, ICT, school project, collaboration, etwinning
Introduction
Etwinning is a free educational platform for school staff ( teachers, librarians, head teachers, etc.). eTwinning action is a part of Comenius, the EU programmes for schools, programme included in the Lifelong Learning Programme. The Portal (www.etwinning.net) was launched in 2005 and now it is considered the biggest community for schools in Europe. It promotes school collaboration through the use of Information and Communication Technologies by providing tools, services and support for schools. The eTwinning Platform now has the involvement of 204 074 teachers, 28 181 projects, 105 941 schools*((figures based on statistics from the end of May 2013). European schoolnet has been granted the role of Central Support Service (CSS) at European level. eTwinning is also supported by a network of National Support Services (NSS).The Portal provides online tools for teachers to find partners, set up projects, share ideas, exchange best practice, start working and learning together. Browsing through the Portal the members will find running projects, project kits, teacher rooms, groups, news about learning online events which take place in the learning laboratories.
eTwinning is focused on:
Students because they are keen and interested in project based work. It motivates them and brings school close to reality. The students would learn to answer questions or solve real problems and would develop their 21st Century skills. Project Based Learning is synonymous with learning in depth. A well-designed project provokes students to encounter (and
struggle with) the central concepts and principles of a discipline. It depends of teacher’s creativity and experience to build interesting project activities in order to involve students and make them to have fun also.
Teachers because they are the ones who should facilitate and help students on their way to future. Etwinning is a programme which helps integrating different pedagogical approaches and contents (personally and culturally dependent) in the daily school lessons. The teachers should be informed about eTwinning benefits, personal and professional development opportunities and the recognition of the valuable activities.
School managers (Head teachers, Principals, Inspectors) because they should support their staff and students work and promote the good practice examples.
Last but not least: the community (parents, families, neighbors, local authorities) because I totally agree that school is a part of community and the members of community should be involved in school’s projects.
eTwinning and the 21st century skills Etwinning programme is the best opportunity for developing students and
teachers 21st century skills. They improve their ways of thinking providing creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making and learning skills. They develop their ways of working through communication and collaboration. They use new tools for working in the ICT and information literacy field.They improve their skills for living in the world (citizenship, life and career skills, personal and social responsibility).
Etwinning is the best free and safe platform for teachers to connect, develop collaborative projects and share professional ideas in Europe. I have been happily using eTwinning platform since 2010. I have successfully participated in many learning events which helped me to improve my teaching skills. I am a member of several eTwinning Teacher Rooms and I am a sub-group moderator in three eTwinning Groups. Through me and my colleagues labour CSS has awarded me the title of European eTwinning Ambassador. The effort of my students has been rewarded by the European Schoolnet when our project Friends Fur-Ever won the 4-11 Age Category eTwinning competition this year.
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Romanian team project’s logo
The main benefit from the student’s involvement in this project has been their skills gained in the fields of communication, collaboration and technology. I will further try to improve their skills by utilizing in my classes the prize from the project, the 7.0 tablets to the maximum extent: Geography, climate, orientation, fauna, flora, etc. via the realistic global image network (google earth, google maps, etc.)
Conclusions
Joining eTwinning each school would add European and global value and would motivate students and staff for learning and collaboration. Etwinning is the best way to integrate teaching to the consciousness of the 21st century challenges.
REFERENCES
ISTRATE, O. et alii (2013) Rolul proiectelor educationale realizate prin parteneriate scolare internationale. Raport preliminar eTwinning RO12. Bucuresti, TEHNE- Centrul pentru Inovare în Educatie.
