eTwinning is a partnership where at least two schools from at least two European countries take advantage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools to work together in order to harvest pedagogical, social and cultural benefits. It provides an opportunity to motivate young people to learn about and with each other while practicing their ICT skills at the same time. eTwinning is about enhancing pedagogy and should become a worthwhile activity that adds value to conventional learning. eTwinning is an integral part of the European Commission’s eLearning programme.
The eTwinning portal www.etwinning.net has been released by European Schoolnet (EUN) this month on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Education and Culture. This is an interim release and the full version will be released early next year.
The portal offers in 20 languages advice, ideas, help and the information needed to start preparing an eTwinning partnership at school. It also provides school staff with a European helpdesk to support eTwinning activities and answer questions on pedagogical issues.
The full version of the portal will be online in mid January next year when schools will be able to register and find such tools as a Twin Finder, multilingual workspaces to communicate and collaborate online and other tools and resources to develop a successful eTwinning scheme.
eTwinning is a major opportunity and challenge for primary and secondary schools throughout Europe. By pursuing common goals through eTwinning, pupils can enhance their confidence, self-esteem as well as their linguistic and cultural awareness, learn to work together and appreciate cultural differences.
eTwinning is an important action as all young European citizens should have the opportunity during their time at school to participate, together with their teachers in an educational project with their European counterparts. This experience could be decisive in fostering a deeper understanding of interdependence, and the contribution that a young European citizen can make to the achievement of a democratic multicultural society. Internet-based learning communities will contribute to improving intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between the pupils, their schools and the wider community.
In addition, the eTwinning of schools will help update teachers’ and trainers’ professional skills in the pedagogical and collaborative use of ICT.
eTwinning is supported by a European Central Support Service and a network of National Support Services
Text: Zuzana Kolarcikova