Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2014 Newsletter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------need to show people around and remove their
inhibitions.
2. Most new users are afraid of the “responsibilities”
they will have or “requisites” that their registration
will bring. It would be nice if a video with simple
instructions could calm their stress.
3. Explanation of how the TwinSpace works http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/get_suppo rt/help
/how_to_use_the_twinspace.htm has to be
improved. Maybe adding several examples will
make life easier.
for students it is of the highest interest to have a
real time streaming contact with their partners,
especially at the beginning. Often one partner
sends messages that the other does not even
realize (s)he got. Not getting an answer (at the
beginning) is an occasion to stop participating. So,
a streaming online platform, where classes can be
“live”, is necessary. I know that it needs a lot of
technical background (huge amounts of data), but
it is either we are going to “win” our students or
“lose” them.
Finding partners:
If someone already knows the teacher (s)he would
like to cooperate with, no problem! But if I want to
search to find someone that might fit what I expect
him or her to be, then there are some points I
would like to know in advance:
1. A photo of that teacher is necessary. “A picture is
worth a thousand words,” say the Chinese. Indeed,
when I see somebody’s face, I feel more like in the
true world and I can choose (or not) to address that
person.
2. The first “welcome text” on a teachers’ profile
should be “readable”. Many teachers write in their
native language and cannot be understood by
“foreigners”. I realize that in this way everyone has
to learn and speak and write in English most likely,
but in my opinion it is the only way to communicate
commonly.
3. The school details should be clearly mentioned.
Where does the respective teacher teach? What is
the location of the school? I must be able to locate
it exactly to know his/her living area. School
website should have an English version too. There
is no way to understand Turkish, Latvian or
Portuguese for me.
4. I think you are aware of the way certain teachers
try to “invade” eTwinning. They send dozens of
requests for cooperation, regardless if they match
with what the inquiry is all about. Usually it is the
same message (copy-paste). Their flood-system
ruins the feeling of seriousness eTwinning is trying
to establish. There has to be a way to bring them
on the right path!
Monitoring the TwinSpace:
1. Teachers who are administrators should have the
power to observe all participating members. I need
to know what students write to each other.
2. I should be able to open a link in another card or
window. Currently this is not possible. I have to go
forwards and backwards on my browser. It is
somehow frustrating.
Projects:
Maybe it is I who does not know how to use it, but
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