The e-Twinning initiative aims to encourage European school collaboration using ICT. It provides an online platform where teachers can connect with partners in other European countries to develop collaborative projects. Over 170,000 teachers and 90,000 schools across Europe are registered in e-Twinning. The platform offers tools for teachers to communicate, share resources, and work together on projects that promote cultural exchange and ICT skills for students.

1. Submitted by
Stephin. S
B.Ed Natural Science
KUCTE Kumarapuram

2. INTRODUCTION
The e-Twinning action is an initiative of the European Commission that
aims to encourage European schools to collaborate using Information and
Communication Technologies(ICT) by providing the necessary infrastructure (online tools,
services, support). Therefore, teachers registered in the e-Twinning action are enabled
to form partnerships and develop collaborative, pedagogical school projects in any
subject area with the sole requirements to employ ICT to develop their project and
collaborate with teachers from other European countries (at least two teachers from two
different European countries are needed). The primary workspace for the e-Twinning
action, is the e-Twinning Portal (www.e-Twinning.net) and it is available in twenty-five
languages. Teachers registered in the e-Twinning action, also called e-
Twinners, find each other, communicate, share resources and collaborate through the e-
Twinning platform. This growing and active community enforced the change in the
motto of e-Twinning from "School partnerships in Europe" to "The community for
schools in Europe."
What is e-Twinning ?

3.  Twinning is the community for school in Europe promotes school collaboration and
school networking in Europe through the use of Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT).
 It provides advice, ideas and tools to make it easy for schools to set up partnerships
and start collaborative projects in any subject area.
 e-Twinning assists schools at both European level, through the Central Support Service
(CSS), and at national level, through the National Support Services (NSS).
 The Central Support Service provides the European e-Twinning portal, offers a
helpdesk for teachers, publishes information material on e-Twinning and organizes
periodically online learning events and teachers' professional development workshops
across Europe.
 It also works in close collaboration with the National Support Services to ensure
shared practice and a coordinated approach to e-Twinning on a European level.
 The European e-Twinning portal is a fully multilingual website offering collaboration
tools and services through which register, find partners and work together with them.
 It also serves as a meeting point where all interested teachers can share resources,
discuss and find partners for other Comenius actions.
 The National Support Services (NSS) are organizations appointed by the ministries of
education who promote e-Twinning at a national level.
Formation

4.  The project was born in 2005 under the European Union's e-Learning programme and
it has been integrated in the Lifelong Learning Programme since 2007.
History
 The e-Twinning action was launched in January 2005.
 Its main objectives complied with the decision by the Barcelona European Council in
March 2002 to promote school twinning as an opportunity for all students to learn
and practice ICT skills and to promote awareness of the multicultural European model
of society.
 More than 13 000 schools were involved in e-Twinning within its first year.
 In fall 2008, over 50 000 teachers and 4 000 projects have been registered, while a
new e-Twinning platform was launched
 In early 2009 the e-Twinning motto has changed from "School partnerships in Europe"
to "The community for schools in Europe".
 In June 2009, the e-Twinning community consisted of nearly 65 000 members.
In 2011 nearly 30 000 projects have been registered, the total number of
registered teachers has increased dramatically to 130 000, and the number of
registered schools has been 90 000
Currently (June 2012), more than 20 000 projects have been developed
between two or more schools across Europe, the total number of registered teachers
is close to 170 000 and the number of involved schools is more than 90 000.

5. Operation
 The main concept behind e-Twinning is that schools are paired with another school
elsewhere in the Europe and they collaboratively develop a project, also known as e-
Twinning project.
 The two schools then communicate using the Internet (for example, by e-mail or video
conferencing) to collaborate, share and learn from each other.
 e-Twinning encourages and develops ICT skills as the main activities inherently use
information technology.
 Being 'twinned' with a foreign school also encourages cross-cultural exchanges of
knowledge, fosters students' intercultural awareness, and improves their
communication skills.
 e-Twinning projects last for any length of time ranging from only a week, to months,
up to creating permanent relationships between schools.
 Schools (both primary and secondary) within the European Union member states can
participate in the e-Twinning project, in addition to schools
from Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
 In contrast with other European programmes, such as the Comenius programme, all
communication is held via the internet and therefore there is no need for grants.

6.  Along the same lines, face-to-face meetings between partners’ schools are not
required, though they are not prohibited and some schools organise face-to-face
meetings.
 European school net has been granted the role of Central Support Service (CSS) at
European level. e-Twinning is also supported by a network of National Support
Services (NSS).
Participating countries
 Member States of the European Union participate in the e-Twinning action: Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and
the United Kingdom. Additionally, Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey
take part of Comenius, the EU programme for schools
How to get involved?
Step-1

7. See what’s out there already
Browse through the portal to level about e-twinning
 Check out e-twinning project and other e-twinning colleges on the e –twinning map
.Your school might already be registered.
 If you are interested in setting up collaborative project check the kits and modules
sections .You will find ideas and directions.
 Find out about professional development opportunities
Step-2
Register on e twinning
Discover the e twinning groups that you may join.
 Contact your national support service [NSS] if you want to know more.
 Now you that e-twinning are for you to give details about yourself and your school
and create your own e-twinning profile.
 Be sure to fill out the form carefully.
 This information will be featured on your profile.
Once you register you will have your user name and password which will allow you to
access e-twinning desktop and learn about others.
Step -3
Develop your e- twinning experience.

8.  Once registered, you can login to your desktop to get in touch with the other e-twinners,
exchange ideas, learn together and plan feature collaborative activities.
 The Desktop is your personal window in the platform, so be sure to keep it updated so
that you can share what you do with the other e-twinners ,if you want to set up a
project ,start looking for a potential partner with following criteria
 Sharing similar objectives and agreeing on a topic for your collaborative projects.
 Communicate regularly and openly.
 Having comparable age, number and language level of the pupils.
 Having access to ICT equipment at school to allow for effective collaboration.
Step-4
Start working with your partners
 If you are ready for e-twinning project, once you have found a partner and have
decided in the project you will in together, you can ester it on the portal.
 You have access to the collaborative tool in the twin space as well as the e-twinning
liable which you can print off post in your school.
 To keep the world up to date on the progress of your work, you can publish entries on
you project diary e-twinning is a community of people.
 Therefore, there are some rules you need to conform in order to keep e-twinning
credible and safe.
Benefits of e-Twinning

9.  In today’s globalised society, connecting, collaborating and working together with
people in other countries is an increasing part of everyday reality – from business, to
leisure and beyond.
 Bringing an International Dimension to Children’s Education has never been more
important if we are to prepare them for life in the 21st century.
 e-Twinning is all about enabling you, your pupils, your class and your school to
connect and work with partners online around Europe, on projects of your choice –
absolutely free of charge.
 It is not about creating extra work, but providing a framework for exciting curriculum
work with partners in another country. There are many benefits to
 Linking up with another school.
For pupils:
 Increased motivation, as they have an audience for their work in a school in another
country
 Enhanced key skills, including ICT use, communication and foreign language skills
 Greater cultural awareness through direct contact with peers in other countries.
For school staff:

10.  Direct contact with education professionals in another European country
 An awareness of teaching and/or management approaches used in another country
 Sharing and celebration of your own professional expertise and experience
 Using e-Twinning as a first step to international linking and gaining the International
School Award.
Some of the thing can do with the e-Twinning
 Swap mascots
 Paint and draw
 Make presentation
 Practice language skills
 Create blog
 Share audio
 Make video
CONCLUSION

11. E-Twinning promotes school collaboration and school networking in
Europe through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
It provides advice, ideas and tools to make it easy for schools to set up
partnerships and start collaborative projects in any subject area .The eTwinning
action are enabled to form partnerships and develop collaborative, pedagogical
school projects in any subject area with the sole requirements to employ ICT to
develop their project and collaborate with teachers from other European
countries.
Reference
 e-Twinning portal, (2012)Retrieved:9 june2012
 http://www.etwinning.net
 http://www.google.com