Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group Newsletter 8 Visibility of eTwinning Projects Newsletter 8 | Page 8

Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2018 Newsletter
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eTwinning: why, what, how
by Mariangela Bielli
WHY
Education is a key point and it is more and more
crucial nowadays, in a world where people are often
at a loss facing global challenges. Indifference, lack
of cooperation, intolerance, discrimination or even
hate speech are challenges the school can help
overcome.
Global competence is defined in PISA as “a
multidimensional capacity. Globally competent
individuals can examine local, global and
intercultural issues, understand and appreciate
different perspectives and world views, interact
successfully and respectfully with others, and take
responsible action toward sustainability and
collective well-being”. Dimensions of global
competence, OECD 2018, page 4
http://www.oecd.org/pisa/Handbook-PISA-2018-
Global-Competence.pdf
eTwinning is the easiest way to start enhancing
global competence at any school level, especially at
a young age. It is inclusive in that it allows teachers
to involve any students, including ALN, foreign
newly arrived students, highly motivated students
in a collaboration path.
What best way to work collaboratively and open our
classes to a fruitful experience with peers from
different countries? Students are curious and willing
to know what their peers do, think and feel; they
start to become aware that it is important to know,
understand, interact for the common well-being.
Many of them will have the chance to take part in
exchange programs at High School or University but
many will not; eTwinning can make the difference
for the latter.
Dimensions of global competence, OECD 2018,
page 11
If I think about all my projects, I can find relevant
connections to these. eTwinning projects
encompass a wide range of meaningful activities
and engage students in interaction as well; they
allow us to embed task-based activities and
enhance learning-by-doing methodology. They are
always a rewarding experience for pupils and
teachers. They do not have the benefits of mobility
of course but they are a sort of “virtual” mobility.
The long term aim of exchange programs is
peaceful cohexistence. This implies knowing,
understanding and interacting appropriately with
others. If eTwinning can help mainstream this
perspective from a young age and develop an
intercultural mindset it is definitely worth trying.
WHAT and HOW - examples from my latest
projects
Mission 2020. The focus was on becoming aware
of biodiversity loss and think about ways to
contribute to sustainable lifestyles. We shared
knowledge and tried to find ways together to act in
a responsible way.
Join hands@online classroom. The focus was on
culture, heritage and social inclusion and we
carried it out with collaborative activities, sharing
habits, myths and legends. Collaborative Kahoots
were run at the end of each activities for
assessment.
Forget me not – build memories through
buildings. The focus was on the “stories” told us
by buildings and reminded us of the past thus
encouraging us to reflect on it.
The discussion on these issues and the activities are
carried out in an intercultural environment, in a
collaborative way, using the new technologies and
practicing a target language. They hopefully
promote openness, tolerance, cultural awareness,
empathy and these are skills and attitudes critical
for democratic citizenship.
Mariangela Bielli teaches English as a Secondary
Language in a Lower Secondary School near Milan,
Italy. She has been an eTwinner ever since its start
in 2005, and an ambassador since 2009. She
considers eTwinning as a great chance both for
teachers and students.
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