October 2011

Looking to get started? Participate in the Back to School campaign! As the new school year has begun, we hope that all eTwinners are already working with other teachers and schools across Europe. If not, eTwinning has some new and exciting initiatives to come, Look out for them on the portal and on your Desktop: The Back to School campaign returns! This year’s campaign focuses on mentorship: from October to December, eTwinners are invited to take part in a special mentorship activity. New eTwinners can receive some help to get familiar with eTwinning tools and activities, while experienced eTwinners can offer guidance and advice. Find your mentor or become a mentor yourself! The Project Card is now available for all eTwinners who want to talk directly with their NSS, and get support and advice from them. It’s a direct communication channel to your NSS easy to use and manage.

What’s going on in schools?

Project of the month

Learn more about projects

3 I's - Interaction, Interdependence and Interculturalism This project draws attention to the importance of cultural/intercultural understanding. Pupils share their knowledge on different European countries emphasizing similarities and interdependence. The project targets 17-18 years old pupils and is organised through group work and self-assessment. Quality Label of the Month What is the Quality Label? EDC – Education through Communication Education through communication is a project based round the concept of sharing common goals through all forms of communication. One of the main aims is to foster tolerance and appreciation of different cultures: there are schools from Austria, Hungary, Norway, Turkey, Madeira, Italy and Scotland.

From the eTwinning Portal Back to School campaign The 2011-2012 school year has just begun! We invite you to participate in the Back to School campaign, which this year is focused on mentorship: eTwinners help eTwinners! Project Card: talk to your NSS! The Project Card is a new feature now available for all eTwinners engaged in a project to remain in contact with their NSS.

What’s going on across Europe?

Croatia: eTwinning workshop for beginners

In collaboration with the Croatian Academic and Research Network (CARNet) NSS Croatia is organizing a workshop for beginners in eTwinning from 24 - 25 November in Zagreb, Croatia. Participants will learn how to start eTwinning projects, how to integrate eTwinning in their lessons and how to lead projects in partnership with pupils.

Czech Republic: eTwinning seminar in Prague on weekends and holidays

The Czech NSS is preparing eTwinning workshops on Saturdays and during holidays in Prague. Seminars will focus on familiarisation with the activities of eTwinning and its tools. Find more information about the upcoming events online.

Germany: Back to School campaign 2011

Every year, the Back to School campaign offers a variety of events and activities from the beginning of October. The German NSS has developed attractive ideas such as a competition for the best concept for a volunteering project, a brand new online service that gives answers to internet safety queries and a call for schools to report on how they integrated Skype as an interesting communication tool into their eTwinning projects.

Germany: Blended-Learning Events

This autumn will start with a new set of Blended Learning Events. These trainings combine online and face-to-face meetings and will take place in different sites in Germany. They are targeted at teachers of all school types who wish to establish contacts with European schools and get to know more about eTwinning tools.

Germany: National Quality Labels awarded

Up to 31 projects have been awarded with the national eTwinning quality label and received recognition to their remarkable intercultural project work in school. All projects that submitted their entries by 15 July will automatically be considered for the National eTwinning Prize 2011. The winners will be rewarded with interactive whiteboards.

Iceland: New eTwinning Ambassadors

Six enthusiastic Ambassadors have been assigned to their respective regions outside the capital, Reykjavik. This is an important support to the work of the NSS and probably the most exciting development in Iceland since the inception of the programme.

Italy: Multilateral seminar "Border lands"

From 5-7 October a multilateral contact seminar organized by Italy, Austria and Slovenia will take place in Trieste, Italy. The participants will work together to develop new projects involving border countries on a cultural, geographical and historical perspective.

Latvia: eTwinning illustration 2011 now open

On 23 September the Latvian NSS opened an illustration exhibition at EU House in Riga. Illustrations where made by pupils, who expressed their ideas and interpretation of eTwinning by participating in the contest “eTwinning illustration 2011”. Two authors of best illustrations will receive their drawings turned into puzzles; in addition the six best illustrations will be turned into postcards.

Latvia: eTwinning Latvia will participate in IT exhibition

From 27-28 October the Latvian NSS will participate in an annual Exhibition of Information Technologies in schools (LatSTE). Teachers, pupils and other stakeholders will have the chance to collaborate during eTwinning workshops. The winners of the National eTwinning awards will be announced.

Latvia: eTwinning Latvia advises Ministry of Education and Science

Since September 2011, the Latvian NSS is represented in the Advisory committee of ICT in education at the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia. This committee aims to encourage access and usage of ICT in schools in Latvia.

Netherlands: Dutch eTwinning prize

The Dutch NSS is happy to announce the winners of the Dutch eTwinning prize 2011. The prize giving ceremony will take place on 5 October in Utrecht. Congratulations to all winners!

Poland: eTwinning regional conferences and annual meeting

Nearly 300 teachers were trained on eTwinning tools during three workshops organized in cooperation with local authorities. All regional eTwinning representatives will be trained on eTwinning and external tools during an annual meeting which will take place at the end of October.

Poland: New eTwinning publications now available

New national eTwinning publications and leaflets have just been published and are now available for teachers.

Slovakia: Contact seminar in Bratislava

From 29 September - 1 October a contact seminar will take place in Bratislava. Teachers from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Norway have been invited to meet, exchange their contacts and start a project.

Slovakia: Conference for school principals

On 27 October a conference for school principals will be hold in Zilina on “Slovak schools’ network of European Projects“.

Slovenia: eTwinning e-postcard contest

Create the most original eTwinning e-postcard and win interesting prizes!

Slovenia: eTwinning Ambassadors

The Slovenian NSS selected a new team of eTwinning Ambassadors, who will be active for the next two school years. Congratulation to all the Ambassadors!

Spain: National eTwinning Prizes Competition 2012

Check the Spanish website to find all the information related to the National eTwinning Prizes Competition 2012. The European Prizes competition will open shortly. Please remember that the two competitions are totally independent and if you wish to participate in both you should fill out the respective forms on the corresponding platforms.