ETwinning
Encyclopedia
The eTwinning project aims to encourage European schools to collaborate using Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT).
's e-Learning
programme and is now part of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
' with a foreign school also encourages cross-cultural exchanges
of knowledge, fosters students' intercultural awareness, and improves their communication skills.
eTwinning projects last for any length of time ranging from only a week, to months, up to creating permanent relationships between schools. Schools (both primary and secondary) within the European Union member states can participate in the eTwinning project, in addition to schools from Norway
and Iceland
.
European schoolnet
has been granted the role of Central Support Service (CSS) at European level. eTwinning is also supported by a network of National Support Services (NSS).
. In Spain, the ITE- National Institute for Educational Technologies, develops a National Support Service for etwinning. The Ministry of Education (Spain) hosts the ITE within its official web page.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
(ICT).
Formation
The project was born under the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's e-Learning
E-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
programme and is now part of the Lifelong Learning Programme.
Operation
The main concept behind eTwinning is that schools are paired with another school elsewhere in the Europe. The two schools then communicate using the Internet (for example, by e-mail or video conferencing) to collaborate, share and learn from each other. eTwinning encourages and develops ICT skills as the main activities inherently use information technology. Being 'twinnedTwinning
Twinning may refer to:* In biology and agriculture, producing two offspring at a time, or having a tendency to do so;* Twin towns and sister cities, towns and cities involved in town twinning...
' with a foreign school also encourages cross-cultural exchanges
Cross-cultural communication
Cross-cultural communication is a field of study that looks at how people from differing cultural backgrounds communicate, in similar and different ways among themselves, and how they endeavour to communicate across cultures.- Origins :The Cold War, the United States economy...
of knowledge, fosters students' intercultural awareness, and improves their communication skills.
eTwinning projects last for any length of time ranging from only a week, to months, up to creating permanent relationships between schools. Schools (both primary and secondary) within the European Union member states can participate in the eTwinning project, in addition to schools from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
European schoolnet
European schoolnet
European Schoolnet or EUN is a network of 31 Ministries of Education in Europe and beyond. EUN was created more than 10 years ago with the aim to bring about innovation in teaching and learning to its key stakeholders, these being Ministries of Education, schools, teachers and researchers.- Policy,...
has been granted the role of Central Support Service (CSS) at European level. eTwinning is also supported by a network of National Support Services (NSS).
Host countries
Inside the UK, it is managed by the British CouncilBritish Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
. In Spain, the ITE- National Institute for Educational Technologies, develops a National Support Service for etwinning. The Ministry of Education (Spain) hosts the ITE within its official web page.