Learning Events

Learning Events are short intensive online events on a number of themes. They are led by an expert and include active work and discussion among teachers across Europe.

Do you want to improve your Professional Development and meet new people? Then the Learning Events are for you!

The idea of a Learning Event is that it is a short intense course that offers you an introduction to a topic, stimulates your ideas, helps develop your skills and does not require a long-term commitment in terms of your time.  It is also designed to be an enjoyable learning experience.

Each learning event lasts 4-5 days of active work and discussion, followed by 4-5 days of reflection and personal work.  The materials are online and you may access them during your own time.

How to participate? The application for each event is open to all registered eTwinning teachers, approximately one week before the event begins. The link is on your Desktop, so just log in to fill in the online form. If you are not yet registered do so now then follow the link on your Desktop.

All events take place in the eTwinning Learning Lab.

Spring 2010

• 13- 29 January: Virtual Grand Prix racing - presenter: Val Brooks, European eTwinning Teachers Team (Working language: ENGLISH)
  

 
Based on the Virtual Grand Prix Racing project kit, this learning event gives participants the opportunity to find out how to run the software and project in their school. During the two-week event, some activities are completed which simulate preparing a car for a real grand prix. Some activities are practical (basic) maths completed ‘off-line’ and some are completed in a couple of online events using web conferencing. The final activity is a live online race! It is NOT necessary to have a copy of the software for this event as participants will be working with some volunteer UK teachers who already have it and will help show how it works during the online sessions.  The number of participants for this learning event is limited to 40.

                                                                             
*****

• 15 – 28 February: eTwinning ideas for Maths - presenter: Palmira Ronchi, European eTwinning Teachers Team (Working language: ENGLISH)

This event is for teachers of Mathematics with pupils aged 12-19. During the learning event teachers are able to create work sessions with the open source programme Geogebra and use, simultaneously, a small computer algebra system and the interactive geometric design tool. In this way participants can experience by themselves the difficulties pupils have to overcome, the cognitive processes they can put in action and the attainment they can achieve. The participants also have the opportunity to reflect on changes occurring when using technologies and become more skilful and self-confident when deciding to exploit the potentialities of new technologies in maths education. The number of participants is limited to 150.

*****    

• 19–28 February: Multiple intelligences, a challenge in eTwinning -  presenter: Mirjam Heemskerk, eTwinning Ambassords for The Netherlands working in Special Needs education (Working language: ENGLISH)              

This Learning Event explores the educational theories of Howard Gardiner on Multiple Intelligences and how it can be taken into account within an eTwinning project. It is suitable for teachers of all disciplines and pupil age groups.  The number of participants is limited to 50.                          

*****

• 17 - 28 March: Building a successful project - presenter: Cees Brederveld, Euroepean eTwinning Teachers Team (Working language: ENGLISH)

This event is suitable for teachers who wish to explore a step-by-step approach to building a successful eTwinning project. Following the "KISS" principle you will be guided through the essential points for successful project work. Suitable for post-primary teachers of all disciplines. The number of participants is limited to 100.   

*****          

• 22 March - 2 April: eTwinning approaches for Primary Schools - presenter: Miriam Schembri, European eTwinning Teachers Team (Working language: ENGLISH)     

This learning event is aimed at primary teachers and will explore specific approaches for carrying out project work with younger pupils. In this interactive event the participants will be encouraged to team up with other primary teachers to work and plan together.   Project ideas and approaches will be discussed, touching on the specific measures that have to be taken when working with younger pupils. The number of participants is limited to 100.

*****

• 19 – 28 April: Tools for eTwinning - presenter: Ioanna Kominou, European eTwinning Teachers Team (Working language: ENGLISH)

In this learning event, participants will learn more about the tools that can be used for the development of an eTwinning project.  Communication technology can help in the research and development of educational material, promote interaction among partner schools and make the results of a project prominent. The discovery of new tools can make projects more amusing for pupils as well as for teachers. This event is suitable for teachers of all disciplines and school levels. The number of participants is limited to 100.
 
 

*****

• 12 - 24 April: Exploiting Web 2.0; eTwinning and Collaboration - presenter: Tiina Sarisalmi, European eTwinning Teachers Team (Working language: ENGLISH)

 
What exactly is collaboration? How does it contribute to a fuller pedagogical experience for teachers and pupils? What tools promote collaboration in project work? When is it appropriate to use collaborative learning techniques? These questions and more are explored in this interactive learning event which is suitable for teachers of all disciplines and school levels. The number of participants is limited to 100.

*****

• (exact dates TBC) May: Mind Mapping - presenter: Pierre Auboiron, eTwinning Central Support Service (Working language: FRENCH)

Do you use mind maps? Join this event to learn how they may be used in your work to assist in the formulation of ideas in a fast and effective way.

Feedback from participants

Find out more about the Learning Events from other European colleagues who have already taken part.

"Thank you for organising this course.I realise I have to learn much more to be a good (better) teacher. I hope I will learn more during your next on-line courses. It saves a lot of time. I do not have to go to the city, to spend time on commuting - just sit at home and learn whenever I like - it is marvellous." - Podcasting, April 2009

"For me, this was a unique opportunity to see how other people work, meet dedicated teachers, share, learn, see, analyse, understand and feel new things. It was both a very stimulating and demanding week that brought a lot of knowledge and a huge boost to my self-confidence. I enjoyed every minute of it and I gave it every spare moment of my days (my neglected and hungry family can stand as a living proof!) . Thank you for this wonderful adventure! It was much better than I expected." - Creative use of Media, April 2009

"Thank you for giving us such a new opportunity to meet teachers from all over Europe. It was a very exciting week, full of creative energy. You felt the passion that teachers put in their homework (searching, analysing, trying out and doing the tasks). This is why I loved it." - Creative Use of Media, April 2009

"By the end of this event, which opened the door to a new domain for me, I learned that distance is not a barrier between people who share the same ideas and questions. The result, which was a collaborative mind map on creativity, was proof of this. I liked the idea of having it visible on the Portal as well." - Mind-mapping and creative thinking, May 2009

Web Editor: Christina Crawley Published: 11.06.2009 Last changed: 15.03.2010