eTwinning & the professional development of teachers

1. eTwinning & the professional development of teachers Anne Gilleran – pedagogical manager eTwinning Central Support Service

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

3. Topics • Some concepts regarding professional development • Short introduction to eTwinning • Evolution of professional development in eTwinning • Questions?

4. 3 questions • What is the relationship between eTwinning and Professional Development? • How do they influence each other? • How can eTwinning contribute to professional development and visa versa?

5. This presentation will include ideas……. Based on the report: Teachers Professional Development: an overview of current practice Published March 2011 European Schoolnet Will be available at: http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/news/publications.htm

6. Background • Let’s start by looking at the OECD Talis report 2009

7. Informal dialogue to improve teaching Professional Development Network

8. What is eTwinning?

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

11. What happened in 2005 or…. The Internet context

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

13. Web 2.0: Interactive & creative internet Provided us with the possibility to: - interact- publish - create - comment - communicate

14. eTwinning Projects Between 2005/08 eTwinning had also evolved Critical Mass Informal collaboration Comenius Partnerships Communications and networking beyond Projects Peer learning Sharing and exchanging Sharing of resources and ideas Time for eTwinning 2.0 Community building

15. eTwinning 2.0 • 2 main elements • Informal social network • Continuing professional development

16. To understand eTwinning • You must know the following facts • 33 countries participate • Each of those countries has a National Support Service NSS • Coordination by the Central suport Service • Its heart is the eTwinning Portal www.eTwinning.net

18. Lets take a look…. at the evolution of professional development in eTwinning

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

20. Normally 7 per year Approximately 100 participants per workshop 25/75 ratio Aimed either at specific audience or them European Professional Development Workshops - PDWs

21. Evolved to include Bilateral and multilateral workshops with the aim of providing face to face meetings with a partner finding focus

22. National Training programmes • Many countries run extensive training programmes both face – face and on line. • Part of the national in-service programme most notably in • Spain • Poland • Estonia • Czech Republic

23. Learning Events • A Learning Event is a short intense course that offers: • an introduction to a topic • stimulates ideas • helps develop skills • does not require a long-term commitment in terms of time. • It is designed to be an enjoyable learning experience.

24. eTwinning Groups The eTwinning Groups are a place for teachers to exchange about various interests 34 Groups

25. Teachers rooms • A Teachers Room is a place where teachers can discuss specific topics over a short period of time and are created directly by eTwinners. • Public Teachers Rooms are open to all eTwinners to view and contribute. • Restricted Teachers Rooms can be viewed by all eTwinners; however, to contribute to them, one must be invited.

26. The Journal • a digital portfolio • An opportunity to share • An instrument for social networking

27. Some statistics

28. At this moment: • 128 000 teachers registered • 10 000 participate in a project • 20 000+ log in each day to the Desktop

30. Back to the 3 • What is the relationship between eTwinning and Professional Development?

34. 2. How do they influence each other?

35. eTwinning is seen as something that allows up-skilling in areas such as the use of ICT to support teaching, language learning, project management skills and other areas of personal development that can also be recognised as key competences for lifelong learning

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

37. The kind of professional development a teacher participates in is more important than the amount of time invested. The net effects of days of professional development are small and only significant in a few countries, whereas indicators of participation in networks and mentoring (and in some countries also in workshops and/ or courses) have significant and stronger net associations with teaching practices in a majority of countries (TALIS, 2009: 117).

38. Final points • eTwinning is the fastest growing community for teachers in Europe • It contains both communication & collaboration activities And • Formal & informal professional development opportunities

39. Questions? • Thank you for your attention  My contacts anne.gilleran@eun.org