Enlarging AEC-NET’s scope: partnership and school networks in Europe Alexa Joyce Communications & Development Manager European Schoolnet

Today’s presentation About European Schoolnet, its objectives and networks Short history of school cooperation in Europe New challenge: web 2.0 Zoom in: eTwinning Next steps

About European Schoolnet, its objectives and networks

Short history of school cooperation in Europe

New challenge: web 2.0

Zoom in: eTwinning

Next steps

About European Schoolnet Dedicated to Support schools in bringing about the best use of technology in learning Promote the European dimension in schools and education Improve and raise the quality of education in Europe Network of 31 Ministries of Education in EU and neighbouring countries A successful partnership cooperating on school issues for over 10 years

About European Schoolnet

Specific objectives Contributes to development of technology-enhanced learning in schools Disseminates good practice and investigates new models for schooling and learning Provides services, content and tools based on ICT to members and partner networks Offers pedagogical and information services with European added value to schools in Europe Supports professional development of teachers Fosters and supports collaboration and cooperation among schools in Europe

Ministries of Education IT Industry and Suppliers European Commission Schools Experts Policy makers Researchers Developers School Leaders Teachers, Pupils European Schoolnet Stakeholders Target groups

Our Activities Innovation and exchange on ICT policies and practice School networking and services Interoperability and content exchange

Teachtoday.eu campaign on emerging technology eSkills career portal eLearning Awards Futurenergia campaign on energy Xperimania campaign on chemistry

International education networks EU cooperation & citizenship eTwinning Spring Day Global issues DYP GENIE eSafety Teachtoday Insafe Competitions & campaigns eLearning Awards Euro MST actions eSkills Xplora eTwinning is the largest network: over 50, 000 schools registered!

EU cooperation & citizenship

eTwinning

Spring Day

Global issues

DYP

GENIE

eSafety

Teachtoday

Insafe

Competitions & campaigns

eLearning Awards

Euro

MST actions

eSkills

Xplora

Short history of school cooperation in Europe Schools cooperating internationally for long time, especially in languages. Some global projects like i*EARN since 1988 Perhaps even started as long ago as the 16 th century … But the 90s brought a big change: the birth of the internet and ICT Suddenly cheaper and easier to cooperate

Schools cooperating internationally for long time, especially in languages. Some global projects like i*EARN since 1988

Perhaps even started as long ago as the 16 th century …

But the 90s brought a big change: the birth of the internet and ICT

Suddenly cheaper and easier to cooperate

Mid-90s: Comenius launched by European Commission Nordic countries established ODIN at same time Web for Schools initiative European Schoolnet set up shortly after including: Virtual School, Comenius Space Communities + partner finding tools Other projects for school heads, eSafety, etc. Short history of school cooperation in Europe

Mid-90s:

Comenius launched by European Commission

Nordic countries established ODIN at same time

Web for Schools initiative

European Schoolnet set up shortly after including:

Virtual School, Comenius Space

Communities + partner finding tools

Other projects for school heads, eSafety, etc.

AEC-NET established in 1998 2000s: Launch of the eTwinning initiative – skepticism at first… Establishment of ESP-net (but active since 1998) Launch of Global Gateway Industry + private sector initiatives too Short history of school cooperation in Europe

AEC-NET established in 1998

2000s:

Launch of the eTwinning initiative – skepticism at first…

Establishment of ESP-net (but active since 1998)

Launch of Global Gateway

Industry + private sector initiatives too

Now many initiatives in Europe

… and beyond

Why so many? Proven benefits for schools: L anguage learning + intercultural knowledge Motivation for subjects studied Authentic learning contexts Evolution of pedagogy towards more student-centred model (constructivism, computer-supported collaborative learning) Improved ICT skills, ICT embedded in individual subjects rather than standalone Impact on motivation of students and teachers Whole school involvement + community (parents) International school cooperation – despite obstacles of culture, curriculum, etc. – Is enriching and most of all FUN!

Proven benefits for schools:

L anguage learning + intercultural knowledge

Motivation for subjects studied

Authentic learning contexts

Evolution of pedagogy towards more student-centred model (constructivism, computer-supported collaborative learning)

Improved ICT skills, ICT embedded in individual subjects rather than standalone

Impact on motivation of students and teachers

Whole school involvement + community (parents)

Zoom in: eTwinning Officially launched by the European Commission as part of the eLearning programme on 14 Jan 2005 Promotes school partnerships in Europe European Schoolnet is Central Support service National Ministries of Education or affiliated agencies are National Support Services Aim was to have 30,000 twinned schools by 2007

Officially launched by the European Commission as part of the eLearning programme on 14 Jan 2005

Promotes school partnerships in Europe

European Schoolnet is Central Support service

National Ministries of Education or affiliated agencies are National Support Services

Aim was to have 30,000 twinned schools by 2007

eTwinning back in 2005 The eTwinning Portal was designed to create, manage and run projects. The only incentive for teachers was recognition, visibility and free tools and support Training and partnership-finding workshops were organised, plus annual conference

The eTwinning Portal was designed to create, manage and run projects.

The only incentive for teachers was recognition, visibility and free tools and support

Training and partnership-finding workshops were organised, plus annual conference

More than 50 000 members from 43 000 schools have registered More than 10 000 projects have been registered (more than 4000 active) More than 100 000 pupils have been invited to TwinSpaces More than half a million messages have been exchanged on the Desktop eTwinning was launched in 2005.. And since then..

More than 50 000 members from 43 000 schools have registered

More than 10 000 projects have been registered (more than 4000 active)

More than 100 000 pupils have been invited to TwinSpaces

More than half a million messages have been exchanged on the Desktop

eTwinning was launched in 2005.. And since then.. More than 1500 message have been posted on the forum each month More than 8000 members have been using the Desktop every day More than 200 000 files have been shared in TwinSpaces

More than 1500 message have been posted on the forum each month

More than 8000 members have been using the Desktop every day

More than 200 000 files have been shared in TwinSpaces

Increasing level of participation

eTwinning in a teacher’s words… Watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFxHV3XEWjk

Watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFxHV3XEWjk

But we found a challenge… Many teachers and schools were registering without joining an eTwinning project. So why were they registering?

Many teachers and schools were registering without joining an eTwinning project.

So why were they registering?

.. work in registered projects .. are looking for a partner … found a partner but did not register the project (yet) … registered to find partners for other Comenius actions … are waiting for the right moment and looking for inspiration Schools…

And then another challenge… ICT tools and approaches themselves had evolved… The web had changed Children were already cooperating and communicating online everyday through MSN, MySpace, Facebook – and school had to catch up!

ICT tools and approaches themselves had evolved…

The web had changed

Children were already cooperating and communicating online everyday through MSN, MySpace, Facebook – and school had to catch up!

Web 2.0 Watch the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

So we rethought eTwinning - under the surface many good things were happening. Comenius Partnerships informal collaboration Peer learning Shaing of resources And ideas Community building eTwinning Projects eTwinning went Beyond projects

Many things were happening In eTwinning.. … also outside the eTwinning Portal Comenius Partnerships informal collaboration Peer learning Shaing of resources And ideas

eTwinning has evolved Critical Mass Beyond Projects Activities outside the Portal eTwinning becomes social

Critical Mass

Beyond Projects

Activities outside the Portal

New eTwinning Portal More focus on user generated content Members Profiles Schools Profiles Projects Profiles TwinBlog

More focus on user generated content

Members Profiles

Schools Profiles

Projects Profiles

TwinBlog

Members and Schools Profiles

Projects Profiles

eTwinning is opening up to AEC-NET European Schoolnet signed an MoU with ASEF We analysed how cooperation could take place – based on the Medtwinning example – to run a pilot AEC-NET projects can register on eTwinning as long as have 2 EU schools

European Schoolnet signed an MoU with ASEF

We analysed how cooperation could take place – based on the Medtwinning example – to run a pilot

AEC-NET projects can register on eTwinning as long as have 2 EU schools

Beyond eTwinning European Schoolnet has two new projects planned for 2009, and Asian and EU schools are both going to be invited: E nvironmental community of practice for teachers Cooperation with Cisco Networking Academy network

European Schoolnet has two new projects planned for 2009, and Asian and EU schools are both going to be invited:

E nvironmental community of practice for teachers

Cooperation with Cisco Networking Academy network

Thanks for your kind attention. We will be glad to have closer cooperation in 2009! Contact: [email_address] Our websites: www.eun.org , www.europeanschoolnet.org , www.etwinning.net My blog: http://elearning-global.blogspot.com - there you can download this presentation and the background paper on the topic.

We will be glad to have closer cooperation in 2009!

Contact: [email_address]

Our websites: www.eun.org , www.europeanschoolnet.org , www.etwinning.net

My blog: http://elearning-global.blogspot.com - there you can download this presentation and the background paper on the topic.