Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
Enlarging AEC-NET’s scope:partnership and school
networks in Europe
Alexa JoyceCommunications & Development Manager
European Schoolnet
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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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
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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About European Schoolnet
Dedicated to
Support schools in bringing about the best use
of technology in learning
Promote the Europeandimension in schools
and education
Improve and raise the quality of education
in Europe
Network of 31 Ministriesof Education in EU andneighbouring countries
A successful partnership cooperating on school
issues for over 10 years
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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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
Offers pedagogical and information services with
European added value to schools in Europe
Supports professional development of
teachers
Fosters and supports collaboration and cooperation
among schools in Europe
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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Stakeholders
Ministries of Education
IT Industry and Suppliers
European Commission
Schools
Experts
Target groups
Policy makers
Researchers Developers
School Leaders
Teachers, Pupils
European Schoolnet
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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Our Activities
Innovation andexchange on ICT policies
and practice
School networkingand services
Interoperability andcontent exchange
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AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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Teachtoday.eucampaign onemerging technology
eSkillscareer portal
eLearningAwards
Futurenergiacampaign onenergy
Xperimaniacampaign on chemistry
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AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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Internationaleducation networks
EU cooperation & citizenship
•eTwinning•Spring Day
Global issues
•DYP•GENIE
eSafety
•Teachtoday•Insafe
Competitions & campaigns
•eLearning Awards•Euro
MST actions
•eSkills•Xplora
eTwinning is the largest network: over 50, 000 schools registered!
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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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
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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• 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.
Short history of school cooperation in Europe
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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• 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
Short history of school cooperation in Europe
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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Now many initiatives in Europe
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AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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…and beyond
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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!
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
• 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
eTwinning was launched in 2005..And since then..
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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
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Increasing level of participation
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
eTwinning in a teacher’s words…
Watch the video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFxHV3XEWjk
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
But we found a challenge…
• Many teachers and schools were registering without joining an eTwinning project.
• So why were they registering?
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia22
.. work in registered projects
.. are looking for a partner
… found a partner but did not register the project (yet)
… registered to find partners for other Comenius actions
… are waiting for the right moment and looking for inspiration
Schools…
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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!
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
Web 2.0
Watch the video at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
So we rethought eTwinning- under the surface many goodthings were happening.
Comenius Partnerships
informal collaboration
Peer learning
Shaing of resources And ideas
Communitybuilding
eTwinning Projects
eTwinning wentBeyond projects
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
Many things were happeningIn eTwinning..
… also outside the eTwinningPortal
Comenius
Partnerships
informal
collaboration
Peer learning
Shaing of resources
And ideas
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
eTwinning has evolved
• Critical Mass• Beyond Projects• Activities outside the Portal
eTwinning becomes social
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
New eTwinning Portal
• More focus on user generated content – Members Profiles– Schools Profiles– Projects Profiles– TwinBlog
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
Members and Schools Profiles
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
Projects Profiles
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
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
Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet
AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia
Thanks for your kind attention.• We will be glad to have closer cooperation in
2009!• Contact: [email protected]• 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.