This document discusses the relationship between eTwinning and teacher professional development. eTwinning is an initiative within the Comenius action of the Lifelong Learning Programme that launched in 2005 and provides an online platform for teachers to collaborate. It has evolved over time to include additional tools and opportunities to support informal teacher collaboration and continuing professional development. eTwinning activities like projects, groups, and workshops provide opportunities for teachers to develop skills like using ICT, language learning, and project management. Research also shows that participatory professional development like networking and mentoring can have stronger impacts on teaching practices than one-time workshops.

1. eTwinning & teacher professional development Anne Gilleran – pedagogical manager eTwinning Central Support Service Multilateral Contact Seminar eTwinning- Warsaw

2. Anne who? I have been involved in many projects involving schools, teachers and school leaders I come from Dublin, Ireland Career: university lecturer school counsellor head teacher researcher expert in ICT for education worked in Brussels for the European Schoolnet since 2001 Pedagogical manager for eTwinning since 2005

7. What is eTwinning?

9. A Lifelong Learning Programme initiative - within the Comenius action Launched January 2005 2005-2008 Phase 1 2008-2013 Phase 2

11. eTwinning Phase 1: 2005 – 2008 Description and context

12. eTwinning life cycle 2005 1.eTwinning.net Information, ideas, examples, resources 2.School registration 3.Desktop: Find partner 4.Register a partnership 5.TwinSpace 6.Progress Card Learning Resources 7.Quality Label eTwinning Prizes

13. Within two years……….. February 2004 January 2005 February 2005 October 2006 February 2004 . 2006 2005/06 April 2006

16. European key competencies

17. Informal collaboration Comenius Partnerships Peer learning Sharing of resources and ideas Community building eTwinning Projects Led to eTwinning Phase 2 Critical Mass Communications and networking beyond Projects Sharing and exchanging Between 2005/08 eTwinning had also evolved

21. Dec 2008 … eTwinning Phase 2…. Jan 2005 Dec 2005 Sept 2006 Jan 2008 Learning Events, Groups Teachers Rooms, Profiles Multimodality of professional development offerings Sept 2010 European-wide professional development workshops National training courses raining, e.g. online courses eTwinning school collaboration projects

30. Some statistics

34. Informal dialogue to improve teaching Professional Development Network

38. 2. How do they influence each other?

40. 3. How can eTwinning contribute to professional development and visa versa?

42. Future context of educational professional development