Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2026 Newsletter
The eTwinning Greece Facebook Community as a Professional Learning Network by Xanthi Chouliara
The emergence of digital technologies and social media has significantly transformed teachers’ professional communication, collaboration and lifelong learning. Online educational communities have become important informal environments where educators exchange knowledge, develop professional identities and participate in collaborative learning processes. This article examines the historical development, structure, content and educational significance of the eTwinning Greece Facebook community, an independent online professional community created by Greek educators and supporters of the European eTwinning programme.
The digital transformation of education has influenced not only teaching and learning practices but also the ways educators communicate, collaborate and develop professionally. Traditional professional development models based mainly on formal seminars and institutional training programmes are increasingly complemented by informal learning environments supported by digital technologies. Online communities of educators provide opportunities for continuous interaction, exchange of
experiences and collaborative problemsolving. Social media platforms, particularly Facebook groups, have become important spaces where teachers create professional networks beyond geographical and institutional limitations.
These communities can be understood through the theoretical framework of Professional Learning Networks( PLNs) and Communities of Practice( CoPs). According to Wenger( 1998), communities of practice emerge when individuals share a common interest, interact regularly and develop collective knowledge through participation. Similarly, professional learning networks enable teachers to access resources, build relationships and engage in continuous professional growth.
The European eTwinning programme represents one of the most influential examples of technology-supported educational collaboration. Since its launch in 2005, eTwinning has connected schools across Europe, encouraging teachers and students to develop collaborative projects through digital technologies. In Greece, the programme has developed a large educational community – thousands of teachers from all educational levels.
Within this context, the eTwinning Greece Facebook Community represents a significant example of a teacher-created digital professional network. Unlike official educational structures, this community emerged from educators’ own initiative, reflecting their need for immediate communication, collaboration and mutual support.
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