enlarging aec-net’s scope:partnership and school networks in europe

Alexa JoyceEuropean Schoolnet

AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia

Enlarging AEC-NET’s scope:partnership and school

networks in Europe

Alexa JoyceCommunications & Development Manager

European Schoolnet



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

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



4

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



5

Stakeholders

Ministries of Education

IT Industry and Suppliers

European Commission

Schools

Experts

Target groups

Policy makers

Researchers Developers

School Leaders

Teachers, Pupils

European Schoolnet



6

Our Activities

Innovation andexchange on ICT policies

and practice

School networkingand services

Interoperability andcontent exchange



7

Teachtoday.eucampaign onemerging technology

eSkillscareer portal

eLearningAwards

Futurenergiacampaign onenergy

Xperimaniacampaign on chemistry



8

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!



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

• 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

• 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

Now many initiatives in Europe



13

…and beyond



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!



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



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



• 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..



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


AEC-NET conferenceMalaysia19

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

14

/01

/20

05

14

/03

/20

05

14

/05

/20

05

14

/07

/20

05

14

/09

/20

05

14

/11

/20

05

14

/01

/20

06

14

/03

/20

06

14

/05

/20

06

14

/07

/20

06

14

/09

/20

06

14

/11

/20

06

14

/01

/20

07

14

/03

/20

07

14

/05

/20

07

14

/07

/20

07

14

/09

/20

07

14

/11

/20

07

Increasing level of participation



eTwinning in a teacher’s words…

Watch the video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFxHV3XEWjk



But we found a challenge…

• Many teachers and schools were registering without joining an eTwinning project.

• So why were they registering?


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…



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!



Web 2.0

Watch the video at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g



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



Many things were happeningIn eTwinning..

… also outside the eTwinningPortal

Comenius

Partnerships

informal

collaboration

Peer learning

Shaing of resources

And ideas



eTwinning has evolved

• Critical Mass• Beyond Projects• Activities outside the Portal

eTwinning becomes social



New eTwinning Portal

• More focus on user generated content – Members Profiles– Schools Profiles– Projects Profiles– TwinBlog



Members and Schools Profiles



Projects Profiles



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



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



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.

enlarging aec-net’s scope:partnership and school networks in europe

Business

europe schools

school networks

school issues

school involvement

school partnerships

school heads

virtual school

valueto schools