1st prize in Slovak eTwinning prizes 2014
Helena Repaská,
Primary School of Záborský
Vráble
Primary School of Viliam Záborský in Vráble has been involved in international eTwinning program for seven years. Our pupils have carried out a load of projects with schools from various parts of Europe. We have been awarded both National and European Quality labels.
The 2013/2014 school year was marked by another success, the 1st prize in national eTwinning prizes.
We were awarded the prize for our project “Art connects us”, carried out in collaboration with schools from Poland, Iceland, Spain, Turkey and France.
International eTwinning projects motivate our pupils to learn English, contribute to improvement of their communication skills and bring diversity to school life. Being involved in projects gives children an opportunity to learn about other European countries, their traditions, lives of peers and learn to respect other cultures as well as develop their national awareness. Improvement of their ICT skills is immense. Getting to know each other on a personal level and communication using video-conferencing are pupils’ favourite activities. Pupils build strong friendships, develop self-confidence and become more confident in using a foreign language. When engaged in a video-conference we do not always just talk, but we also sing, while playing guitar or wearing traditional folklore costumes and we also discuss Christmas, Carnival, Easter, etc.
In our school, we have extended our curriculum by another subject for 5th grade called “Projects in English”, in which the focus is primarily on eTwinning. I have observed that it was this subject, which has helped pupils form a positive approach to English and to foreign language learning.
Our winning project “Art connects us” included lots of interesting activities for pupils in the 5th grade. In the project, pupils employed their informatics skills when searching the internet for information on painters; they learned how to use new IT tools when creating electronic books and a presentation about their own art works and work of European artists.
They really enjoyed writing and illustrating collaborative stories and commenting on paintings. They expressed their creativity when producing art works inspired by famous paintings. They learned about each other’s customs, traditions and holidays. Those were really beautiful classes full of various activities, games, joy and children’s laughter.
14
eTwinning has greatly influenced my professional development, as it motivated me to use innovative methods and IT tools in teaching and implement strategic Comenius partnerships in our school.
Works of pupils inspired by Martin Benka and Pablo Picasso
18