Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2013 Newsletter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------students. The questionnaire was meant to analyse
the percentage of students who consume alcohol,
the type of alcohol they prefer, the amount they
drink, reasons for drinking, whether parents were
aware of the drinking, if they were aware of the
health hazards and some other curiosities. After
analysis of the results, which confirmed my fears
that the Maltese teenagers were the most to
consume alcohol, we embarked on researching the
actual effects of alcohol on society and on the
human body. Different alcoholic drinks were
analysed. Laboratory experiments involving alcohol
were done. The highlight was then reached through
a series of activities, all forming part of an antialcohol campaign leading to anti-alcohol day.
The best result from this experience was that
students learnt a very important message for the
benefits of their health: alcohol is toxic and alcohol
kills. Another positive aspect was that the students’
confidence and self-esteem improved. Projectbased learning embraces real-world applications,
promoting students to become creative problem
solvers. Skills acquired - problem solving, critical
thinking, creativity - have developed the students’
personality.
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I cannot say working with such students was easy.
Their low self-esteem proved to be a drawback.
Each time an activity was suggested, their initial
reaction was that they were incapable of working
though it; they complained that they were not
creative, and that they had no knowledge of any
digital tools or computer programs. But with a lot of
encouragement and praise, they managed to work
through all the activities, and I am proud to say
with excellent results.
My School Meets eTwinning
By Maria Rosaria Gismondi
In my school we celebrated “Europe Day” on May
9th, on the very day which marks the anniversary of
the Schuman declaration, considered the sparkle
from which the idea of European Union arose. As
language teachers we are already involved in
European cooperation among schools but the
Etwinning experience is totally new, so in quality of
newly appointed eTwinning ambassador I thought it
was highly time to let my colleagues and students
know about this very powerful tool, which enables
and fosters the European dimension of teaching
and learning.
On that day we gathered about 200 students and
teachers in the school hall and we presented the
international projects in which we are currently
committed, namely a Comenius multilateral
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