Enlarging AEC-NET’s scope: partnership and school networks in Europe

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

2. 2 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

3. 3 Network of 31 Ministries of Education in EU andneighbouring countries A successful partnership cooperating on schoolissues for over 10 years About European Schoolnet Dedicated to Improve and raise the quality of education in Europe Support schools in bringing about the best use of technology in learning Promote the European dimension in schools and education

4. 4 Fosters and supports collaboration and cooperation among schools in Europe Supports professional development of teachers Offers pedagogical and information services with European added value to schools in Europe 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

5. Stakeholders Target groups 5 Ministries of Education Teachers, Pupils IT Industry and Suppliers School Leaders European Schoolnet European Commission Policy makers Schools Researchers Developers Experts

6. 6 Innovation andexchange on ICT policies and practice Our Activities Interoperability andcontent exchange School networkingand services

7. 7 Teachtoday.eucampaign onemerging technology eSkillscareer portal eLearningAwards Futurenergiacampaign onenergy Xperimaniacampaign on chemistry

8. 8 • eSafety • Teachtoday • Insafe • MST actions • eSkills • Xplora • EU cooperation & citizenship • eTwinning • Spring Day eTwinning is the largest network: over 50, 000 schools registered! Internationaleducation networks • Competitions &campaigns • eLearning Awards • Euro • Global issues • DYP • GENIE

9. 9 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 16th century… • But the 90s brought a big change: the birth of the internet and ICT • Suddenly cheaper and easier to cooperate

10. 10 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.

11. 11 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

12. 12 Now many initiatives in Europe

13. 13 …and beyond

14. Why so many? • Proven benefits for schools: • Language 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!

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. Increasing level of participation

20. eTwinning in a teacher’s words…

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

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

23. 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!

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

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

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

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

29. Members and Schools Profiles

30. Projects Profiles

31. TwinBlog

32. eTwinning is social! • The community for schools in Europe • Lifelong learning and professional development platform • Beyond projects (but the aim is still projects) • eTwinning Groups now kicking off and Learning Lab on the way (2009)

33. So what do the students have to say?

34. 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

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

36. Thanks for your kind attention. • We will be glad to have closer cooperation in 2009! • Contact: alexa.joyce@eun.org • 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.