eTwinning
The eTwinning program is an initiative of the European Commission that connects schools in Europe via the internet. Registered teachers can use the eTwinning program to develop partnerships with schools abroad and develop joint educational projects. The cooperation takes place mainly through the eTwinning portal (www.etwinning.de), which is provided by the European Commission in all 23 official languages of the European Union . The platform enables participants to find project partners, communicate with each other and work together.
Emergence
The program was initiated in 2005 as part of the European Union's e-learning program. Since 2007 it has been integrated into the EU's Lifelong Learning Program . eTwinning is part of the EU's Comenius program for schools and has been part of the Erasmus + program since 2014 .
eTwinning headquarters
The German eTwinning headquarters, the head office, is located in Bonn .
history
The eTwinning program started in January 2005. Its main objectives are in line with the decision of the European Council in Barcelona in March 2002 to promote twinning between schools in order to raise pupils' awareness of the multicultural European model of society. In the first year, more than 13,000 schools took part in eTwinning. In autumn 2008 more than 50,000 teachers and 4,000 projects were registered on the eTwinning platform. At the beginning of 2009 the motto “School partnerships in Europe” of the eTwinning program was changed to “Network for schools in Europe”. In June 2009 more than 65,000 teachers were registered on the eTwinning platform. By 2012 that number rose to 170,000. More than 20,000 projects between more than 90,000 schools have been implemented.
procedure
The basic concept of eTwinning is that schools enter into a partnership with another school in another European country and develop a project together. The two schools communicate using the Internet. The aim is to work together across national borders and to learn from one another. Through the internet-based collaboration, the participants learn how to use information and communication technology , and the collaboration with schools in other European countries strengthens intercultural competence , strengthens intercultural awareness and improves communication skills.
The duration of eTwinning projects is not fixed and ranges from a few weeks and months to permanent partnerships between schools. Both primary and secondary schools from all EU member states can take part in eTwinning, plus schools from Turkey , Norway and Iceland and the so-called eTwinning Plus countries Armenia , Azerbaijan , Georgia , Jordan , Lebanon , Republic of Moldova , Ukraine and Tunisia .
In contrast to other EU programs such as Comenius , schools do not receive any financial support, as all communication takes place via the Internet and personal contacts are not necessary. However, the schools have the option of organizing personal meetings of the participants.
seal of quality
Each project can apply for a so-called "eTwinning seal of quality" if the specified participation criteria are met, which is awarded by the national coordination offices (NSS) after the project has been successfully examined. The following main criteria must be met in order to receive a quality label: educational innovation; Integration into the curriculum; Communication, exchange and cooperation between the partner institutions; Use of information and communication technologies (ICT); appropriate and variable media use; Results; Effects and documentation.
By winning the national seal of quality, the project qualifies for receiving additional eTwinning awards. These can be other national and European awards.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ eTwinning enables European school collaboration with Jordan . ( kmk-pad.org [accessed March 9, 2018]).
- ↑ eTwinning Plus. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
- ↑ KMK-PAD: eTwinning quality seal. Retrieved June 26, 2017 .
- ↑ Awards. Retrieved June 26, 2017 (English).