using etwinning to enhance your comenius project today’s session will begin at 430pm please check...

Using eTwinning to enhance your Comenius project

today’s session will begin at 430pm

please check that you will be able to hear us by clicking

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Agenda

• Webinar basics• eTwinning: introduction• Benefits of using eTwinning• Next Steps

Session Agenda

• Webinar basics• eTwinning: introduction• Benefits of using eTwinning• Next steps

32 European Countries

23 languages

Over 140,000 teachers in Europe have joined the community

More than 13,000 teachers in the UK

Over 12,000 active projects

eTwinning Headlines

Aims of eTwinning• Facilitate collaboration between teachers

in different countries in Europe

• Allow teachers and pupils to work together online using various tools

• Make it easy to use ICT in education

Why eTwin?

• Benefits of Using ICT in the classroom…

• Real Audience, motivating for pupils

• Personalised learning

• 21st Century Learning – dynamism

• Safe virtual learning environment

Synergies between eTwinning and Comenius

• eTwinning provides a partner-finding tool specifically for those who want to find Comenius partners.

• The Twinspace is a useful place to put outcomes of their Comenius work (powerpoints, photos etc.) and also plan Comenius activity.

• eTwinning provides professional development on the ICT side of things, which will be useful to any teacher in a Comenius project.

What is eTwinning?• Strand of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme that

allows European schools to engage in collaborative projects using the internet and ICT

• eTwinning began in 2005 and became an sub-programme of Comenius in 2007

• Does not offer funding to schools, but provides tools and support to make project work possible

• It’s free to the end user: schools, teachers and pupils

• It’s a website: the centrepiece of eTwinning is the portal…

What is eTwinning?

www.etwinning.net

3 layers to eTwinning.net• The Public Portal

– Information and inspiration for all– Where teachers register to eTwinning– News, interviews, blogs and example projects

• The Desktop– Search tools and profiles to find a partner– Where teachers get in touch, communicate and share– and register an eTwinning project

• The TwinSpace– Private, secure and free project workspace– Where project partners and pupils collaborate online– Where project work is/can be published and shared online

Any Questions?

3 layers to eTwinning.net• The Public Portal

– Information and inspiration for all– Where teachers register to eTwinning– News, interviews, blogs and example projects

• The Desktop– Search tools and profiles to find a partner– Where teachers get in touch, communicate and share– and register an eTwinning project

• The TwinSpace– Private, secure and free project workspace– Where project partners and pupils collaborate online– Where project work is/can be published and shared online

Partner finding tips• Write clear and concise project ideas on

your profile • Be proactive, use the search filters and

send messages to make contact• Use the partner finding forum• Remember that you are working with other

teachers• Don’t give up!!

Any Questions?

Your Projects

page

Create your new project

Select the one partner that you want to set the

project up with

Project Description Page – these are details for the project

as a whole not just your school, you are writing on

behalf of your partners too so don’t be UK-centric.

3 layers to eTwinning.net• The Public Portal

– Information and inspiration for all– Where teachers register to eTwinning– News, interviews, blogs and example projects

• The Desktop– Search tools and profiles to find a partner– Where teachers get in touch, communicate and share– and register an eTwinning project

• The TwinSpace– Private, secure and free project workspace– Where project partners and pupils collaborate online– Where project work is/can be published and shared online

Agenda

• Webinar basics• eTwinning: introduction• Benefits of using eTwinning• Next Steps

What can eTwinning do for your Comenius Project?

• Help deliver aspects of your project plan

• A way to let unsuccessful partners play an active role in the partnership

• Carry on your project after it finishes and the funding stops

• Find partners for future/other European projects

• Other classes & staff in your school to get involved in the project or have their own European projects

How does it fit with your existing project?

• As a communication tool: Teacher to teacher; pupil to pupil

• As a planning tool

• As a place to store and share your work

• As a tool to disseminate (“publish”) your work: within your school; within your partnership; to the local community and beyond

• As an evaluation tool: teachers and pupils

• Enhances funding applications – score bonus points

Agenda

• Webinar basics• eTwinning: introduction• Benefits of using eTwinning• Next Steps

What Next?

1. Register Yourself on eTwinning

2. Get your partner to register

3. Enter you project plan

4. The British Council approves the project

5. Happy eTwinning

eTwinning Training Opportunities

• Webinars – interactive online seminars• Workshops and Twilights• Professional Development Workshops • European PDW• Ambassador training and associated CPD

Contact Us

We offer a helpdesk service within office hours:

etwinning@britishcouncil.org

craig.farmer@britishcouncil.orgchris.swift@britishcouncil.orgjenny.compton@britishcouncil.orgisabel.brennan@britishcouncil.orgkaren.cleland@britishcouncil.orgowain.wright@britishcouncil.org

www.britishcouncil.org/etwinning

www.britishcouncil.org/etwinning-events

http://etwinninguk.wikispaces.com

Useful Links