Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2017 Newsletter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
eTwinning explained to future teachers by Lia Molini
Last June 16 th I was called to present eTwinning and its opportunities in terms of training events and projects to 80 future teachers at University in L ' Aquila ( Italy ). The University is involved in an eTwinning training pilot project . In a couple of hours I had to show them the platform and tools .
I started my workshop with a Kahoot quiz https :// create . kahoot . it /# quiz / 9b631f2a-3459- 4c9e-ba40-1008229d9b0e to test the students ' knowledge about eTwinning . Kahoot is an amazing tool I often use at school with my very young students to test their pre-knowledge or assess the results of their learning but also to introduce new topics . My idea was to go on with a project to give them a practical example . The project I talked about was one of mine , the last one ; it is titled " Our Colourful World " and comes from an Erasmus + KA2 project among Finland , Italy , France , England and Greece . My aim was to show them how collaboration among different schools can work and produce high quality results but also underline that through eTwinning hard topics such as inclusion and inclusive education can be explored and experienced .
to make the most of the opportunities in school , as may family circumstances . " Our Colourful World " stands for every student ' s different world which schools cannot ignore . Sometime steachers complain about pupils ' lack of attention , unruly behaviour . When students are unmotivated and not involved into the activities , they are destinated to fail in achieving results and developing their self confidence .
eTwinning , through exciting and challenging activities , can contribute to develop strategies and increase competences in digital technology and foreign language acquisition for all pupils , by focusing on each student ’ s potential , adapting activities to students ’ learning styles and providing a variety of materials and teaching strategies ; to reduce barriers to learning and respond to pupils ’ diverse learning needs , bring together learners who are widely dispersed or who have learning difficulties and engage learners who in the past may
have felt excluded , raise the profile of foreign languages in order to increase global / inter-cultural understanding & appreciation . ICT based activities , which encompass many other curriculum subject areas , provide some of the main opportunities through which to successfully include all pupils .
eTwinning ensures that all pupils can access the learning involved . In the project , for example , the production of the podcast was planned into whole class story writing so that pupils could be supported , where relevant and appropriate , whilst at the same time , allowing them to be free to generate ideas and be creative in writing and illustrating . Those with more advanced ICT skills were involved in the actual production of the podcast .
The project aims to foster equity and inclusion , enabling high quality learning for all pupils . It wants to develop strategies , within a ' Cultural ' theme , to increase competences in digital technology and foreign language acquisition for all pupils . Inclusion involves foreign languages , ICT skills , Music and Drama , Art . Children ’ s emotional and mental health needs may have a significant impact on their ability
In an extremely fast moving climate of ICT , the development of digital skills , for both staff and pupils is not only relevant but essential . All of the project work has been presented digitally to
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