Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2012 Newsletter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------brought us closer, allowing us to know each other
better and helping us gain a better understanding
of other countries and cultures. TED reinforced my
belief that successful educational systems should
focus on how to build inclusive schools; this is the
only way that can lead to the creation of inclusive
societies. TED discussions made it clear to me that
assessment should encourage lifelong learning and
not discourage teachers and students from
educating themselves. Certain TED sessions showed
me that teenagers deal with the same youth
problems even in the most developed countries and
convinced me that only through a well-designed
educational system that provides equal
opportunities for all would these problems be
solved. Through TED, I was effectively transferred
to various classrooms in Europe and the US, in
urban, suburban and rural areas, and allowed to
have a closer look at their educational practices and
needs. All in all, these interactions convinced me
that investing in education and training can really
shape a country’s economy and future (and made
me wonder why the people who govern my country
have not realized that yet). Last but not least,
through TED I managed to meet wonderful people,
dedicated and creative teachers, make new friends
and find new partners for my future eTwinning
projects.
In closing, I would like to say that TED is the most
successful and effective example of collaborative
learning that I know of and it has been a joy to be a
part of it. It provided us with collaborative
knowledge and peer-learning. We learnt by
‘teaching’ others, by doing things together, by
discussing, by solving problems and by doing
research in groups. TED definitely showed us the
way to the future classroom, where we would all
like to teach, where technology will be the medium,
teachers will be the guides and students will learn
through interaction, collaboration and through
sharing their knowledge with their peers. So, if you
do come across the next year’s announcement for
TED 2013, you should definitely apply for it without
second thought! It will be your ticket to cross the
Atlantic and your chance to have an unforgettable
experience.
It Is Not Magic, It Is eTwinning!
By Maria Luz Borges
Maria Luz Borges is from Lisbon, Portugal. She is a
kindergarten teacher at E.B1/ JI São Bento in
Valejas. She enjoys what she does, she also loves
reading, writing, laughing, travelling, cats and
eTwinning, which has brought a new breath into her
teaching life.
Since forever I dreamed of flying...
Since forever I tried to live well every moment of
my life, without staying in one place only, and
always going one step further from myself, my
desires, longings, and the world around me...
I'm a Childhood Educator, a kindergarten teacher,
for many, many years now (this is my 36th year of
work). Probably, when some of you were born, I
was already working...
Since forever I was passionate about my
profession, where I always felt like a fish in the
water, without effort, without sorrow, without fight.
Education is my world, and I feel fully accomplished
when I am at school.
During my long teaching practice, I passed through
many educational currents, many fashions, many
theories, but beyond all these, my goal has always
been the same: to look at each and every one of
the children as being unique and special, and go in
their direction to meet their interes