eTwinning & STEMProfessional Development Workshop

June 7, 2012, Lithuania

Dr. Riina Vuorikari

eTwinning Central Support Service

Who am I?• Riina Vuorikari from Finland

• Teacher from my first training

• … then studies in hypermedia, web, e-learning, research, doctoral, etc.

• External expert • Since 2000 in European Schoolnet asSenior Research Analyst and Project Manager

• …

•Created in 1997, based in Brussels

•Network of 30 European Ministries of Education

(MoE) or National Educational Authorities

• Transforming schooling through the use of new

technology

European Schoolnet (EUN)

The question…what is eTwinning?

What about eTwinning projects?

eTwinning & STEM projects

eTwinning Teams in schools

Topics

What is eTwinning?

the portal: www.etwinning.net

is the heart of

eTwinning

A Lifelong Learning Programme initiative- within Comenius

Launched January 2005

2005-2008 Phase 1

2008-2013 Phase 2

eTwinning offers:1. Cross-border school projects

• Using Information and Communication Technologies

2. Formal and informal professional development• On-line: distance courses and online interest for teachers, • Off-line: Professional Development Workshops,

national meetings

3. Social networking tools

What are eTwinning projects?

Let’s learn from an example!

Viedo: A Taste of Math

http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/news/news/top_european_2012.htm

What is an eTwinning project?

A cross-border partnership (min 2 countries),

a good idea, that

…motivates learners – e.g. creative ways to teach and learn, – task and project based learning, – involve and empower learners, – collaboration through games and common

activities

What is an eTwinning project?

The use of ICT for communication and collaboration – Different ways to use ICT, e.g. – Help communication in real time– Collaborate without the ICT in the class and

share the work online later.

What is an eTwinning project?

A theme that allows involving – different subjects (e.g. math and poetry), – international events rooting the project in

the society– normal and special activities and

happening…

What is an eTwinning project?

And what is there to gain?– Students learned

• to communicate in different languages, • look at the world differently• team working within and across schools

– Teachers • enjoyed communicating with other• Co-planned activities with others• Learned to work as a team

We help you to get started!

Collaborative working tools……..

TwinSpace

Teachers

Pupils

•Chat•Image Gallery•Document folders•Publishing tools•Blog•Wiki

What about professional development?

“Professional development is defined as activities that develop an individual’s skills, knowledge, expertise and other characteristics as a teacher.

What is professional development?

This definition recognises that development can be provided in many ways, ranging from the formal to the informal.

It can be made available through external expertise in the form of courses, workshops or formal qualification programmes, through collaboration between schools or teachers across schools or within the schools in which teachers work” (TALIS, 2009: 49).

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On-line:Teacher RoomsDesigned as places to invite other people to discuss topics

On-line: eTwinning Groups34 Groups now active

On-line: Learning Events

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15 Learning events in 2010

20,000 + teachers involved

eTwinning – a social network

or teachers’ professional network?

Personal profile

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Personal content

Contacts

Journal

Projects

Why teachers’ networks?The power of immediate and contextualised help from colleagues!

The expertise of the colleague determinates the usefulness of the help.

Teachers receive Social capital from networks where expertise, information and resources flow between individuals.

Breuer et al. (2009)

Breuer et al. (2009)

Breuer et al. (2009)

eTwinning,

spreading a (positive) virus called pedagogical innovation.

Channels through which expertise, information and resources flow

Teachers’ co-operation (TALIS, OECD, 2009)

Co-operation among staff creates opportunities for

– social and emotional support, – exchange of ideas and – practical advice.

It can thus enhance – professionalism, – feelings of self-efficacy and – prevent stress and “burnout”.

Ever thought of collaborating with other teachers in your school?

Two or more educational professionals in a school

(e.g. teachers, librarians) working together

on eTwinning activities (one project vs. separate project)

Login to the Desktop

Click on the banner

Check out articles, interviews, Frequently Asked Questions.

Check posts from other colleagues who are involved in School Teams. To reply to the post go their profiles by clicking on their names.

Go to the Teachers Room dedicated to School Teams and partecipate to the discussions

Check out projects involving school teams

If you are involved in a School Team or have comments, ideas, proposals, go to your Profile and write a post in your Journal

When you publish, do not forget to tag the post with 'school teams' and click on share.The post will be visible on the School Teams campaign page!

‘Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.’ Henry Ford

Happy eTwinning!

www.etwinning.net

Thank you for your attention : )