Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2026 Newsletter
My Top 6 Hacks for a Successful eTwinning Project by Eva Toth
eTwinning projects can open the classroom to new cultures, new perspectives and new forms of collaboration. At the same time, a successful project requires much more than an appealing topic or a collection of digital tools. It needs clear pedagogical aims, careful planning, committed partners and meaningful opportunities for students to create, communicate and reflect.
Over the years, I have participated in and coordinated numerous national and international eTwinning projects. Based on these experiences, I have collected six practical principles that can help turn a promising project idea into a purposeful and memorable learning journey.
Hack # 1: Pedagogy first, technology second One of the most important questions in education today is whether we are practising digital pedagogy or simply using digital technology. The distinction matters. Pedagogy should always come first, while technology should support the learning process.
This can be particularly challenging in eTwinning projects, as international collaboration is naturally supported by digital platforms and tools. These tools
can make communication easier, facilitate collaboration between students and support differentiation. However, technology should never be used simply for its own sake.
Before selecting a tool, we should ask ourselves: What are our pedagogical aims? What should students learn, experience, practise or develop through this activity? Only after answering these questions, should we choose the technology that best supports our objectives. A simple tool used with a clear purpose is often more valuable than a fashionable application that adds little to the learning process.
Hack # 2: Use AI as a meaningful assistant, not a fashionable add-on The same principle applies to artificial intelligence. Just because students have access to devices and AI tools does not mean they automatically know how to use them in a meaningful, responsible or critical way.
The starting point should once again be the pedagogical purpose. The aim should not be to generate an entire project with AI or experiment with an image generator simply because the technology is currently popular. Instead, we need to consider where AI can genuinely add value to the learning process.
AI can support brainstorming, offer inspiration, help students continue and refine their own ideas, or contribute to problem-solving and creative
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