Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group Newsletter 2017 No. 7 | Page 31

Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2017 Newsletter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In Model 1 projects are activated by supervisors of the trainees that are familiar with the eTwinning program or by an experienced eTwinning ambassador who supports them during the practice. According to the aims of the collaborative project, trainees can use different tools available in the TwinSpace "learning by doing" because they are involved actively planning and arranging materials with peers from other TTI. That is also an important chance for sharing and comparing ideas about methods, approaches and strategies useful for their professional development. Furthermore, they have the opportunity to know, try and use applications and/or programs that enable them to make different digital products by developing digital skills. While interacting and communicating with peers, students improve their foreign language skills throughout the project development due to this practical experience. In Model 2 trainee students have the opportunity to take part in an eTwinning project with pupils in the schools where the traineeship is held under the mentorship of an eTwinning teacher. In this situation, trainees’ role changes because they have the opportunity to collaborate to plan a project (set goals, look for materials and tools etc.) as well as attend and support pupils during the activities. They can observe and monitor pupils' motivation while interacting with peers from other countries and test how eTwinning can be a powerful and enthusiastic experience. Bibliography: European Commission (2015), Education&Training 2020 - School policy. Shaping career-long perspectives on teaching, Brusselles. Cinzia Masia teaches English Language in a Lower Secondary School in Sassari where she lives. She is an eTwinning Ambassador in Italy and a teacher trainer too. She is interested in putting into practice new strategies and tools involving her students. She likes travelling and reading books. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Both these models allow trainee students to know an effective professional social network useful to identify and acquire effectiveness in teaching / learning process by exploiting all the opportunities that eTwinning platform offers. Then, it is essential that the different eTwinning National Support Services keep on working together with Teacher Training Institutions to sustain the Teacher Training Initiative (TTI) in order to offer future teachers a highly formative didactic practice interacting in a stimulating European context. 31