Deputy Head Teacher

Why would you recommend registering with eTwinning?

For the innovative, creativity it brings to the whole curriculum. It is accessible, user friendly, well equipped with on line tools, high levels of support if needed. It helps deliver a number of government initiatives ECM ESD MFL and provides evidence for ISA applications. Best initiative to come along in a long time.

What benefits has running an international link through ICT brought to your school?

The children have enjoyed project work with their peers across Europe sharing their experiences at home and in school. They have been highly motivated and interested. We have used our links to enrich the ethos and character of our school and in promotion and marketing.

Specialist areas:

ISA, Eco Schools, National Curriculum Initiatives

St Edwards Church of England School

When our Comenius project finished we wanted to continue to develop our links with other Eco Schools in Europe.  eTwinning provided the necessary tools for us to do this.  We quickly found Eco School partners in Portugal and Italy and we began a project called Eco Food we created a blog and posted regular items on it.

eTwinning is an excellent resource to bring Europe into your classroom and create real-life experiences to pupils.  Our pupils love links with other schools, you can make your projects as big or small as you like.  

We envisage each class in our school carrying out an eTwinning project and we will build this into our curriculum.  eTwinning is extremely flexible and I would certainly recommend any teacher giving it a try!

MFL Teacher

Why would you recommend registering with eTwinning?

It’s a very easy and straightforward way of finding and creating International links and projects between schools. I’m a huge fan of the Twinspace platform. It makes it a lot easier to create a public/private viewing space for the project work undertaken by partner schools.

What benefits has running an international link through ICT brought to your school?

Greater capability with ICT amongst pupils and staff. Higher motivation in literacy and desire to communicate regardless of abilities.

Specialist areas:

We have mainly used videos and podcasts to share work with each other. Of course PPT has been a key tool also.

Creative Practitioner

Why would you recommend registering with eTwinning?

eTwinning offers an extensive range of opportunities for schools and colleges to interact at many levels with peers and colleagues across Europe.

What benefits has running an international link through ICT brought to your school?

Students and teachers enjoy being an active part of a shared community which helps them to bring their learning to life and celebrates their success and achievement. E twinning gives a purpose for studies and offers new and extensive possibilities for interaction using current, exciting and innovative technologies. It promotes community cohesion throughout the local community, the UK and across Europe. It also opens up a range of possibilities for schools to receive accreditation for their work.

Specialist areas:

I specialise in the practical use and application of web 2.0 tools and techniques to enhance children’s ICT skills across the curriculum. Digital Storytelling including the use of moviemaker, smilebox, photostory, photoshop and the use of a range of websites and programmes for editing, sharing and producing artwork. VOKI’s, Skype and other video chat tools.

I provide workshops in the practical adaptation and differentiaton of the curriculum to support Community Cohesion. I offer information advice and support for school journeys towards gaining the International School Award and researching the range of grants and opportunities for International projects, Arts Awards and Staff development Training.

School Link Coordinator/MFL Teacher

Why would you recommend registering with eTwinning?

eTwinning has been a motivational tool for me as a teacher. Meeting teachers from Europe and working on collaborative projects has brought language and cultural learning alive in the classroom. It has been a great source for networking and the springboard for other project opportunities such as COMENIUS and attending contact seminars.

What benefits has running an international link through ICT brought to your school?

Pupil motivation, enhancing student cultural knowledge. Live chat via the Twinning page has given students the opportunity to talk to their partners. Teachers vision of greater communication and linking opportunities has been widened. Many have shown an interest in finding out more about the programmes that the school will be running. In our recent OFSTED inspection we were commended on how well linked we are with our international efforts our future partnerships. Overall the outcome from our last inspection (March 2010) was Outstanding.

Specialist areas:

I am the International Coordinator for the ISA award as well as the Lead in developing the Global Gateway partnership link with a southern hemisphere school. My role as School Link Coordinator is also to ensure that we have links with other schools in the UK to enhance the community cohesion element of the national curriculum. I will be working on the global dimension of our curriculum in MFL as well as leading a team who will work towards ensuring that our Sri-Lanka partnership will become a whole school project.  We are registered on the Global Gateway, thebigchallengeclub.com, Rafiki, SLN, and E-Twinning web sites.  

Holden Clough Primary School

Why would you recommend registering with eTwinning?

To promote & develop a clear knowledge & understanding of Europe both physically & politically .To establish a community cohesion between the pupils of both schools: This will also be created by personal correspondence[exchanges of work] & a more detailed study of the regional areas that each school is located in.

What benefits has running an international link through ICT brought to your school?

An empathy with fellow young citizens of Europe. An increased understanding of what it means to be European. An increased knowledge and understanding of the United Kingdom and Italy. An understanding of the geographical and political features of Europe linked with an ecoknowledge of some of the environmental issues effecting the continent and what can be done to help improve this situation.

Specialist areas:

ISA, Quality Labels.

Senior Primary School Manager: Key Stage 1 & Curriculum Creativity

Why would you recommend registering with eTwinning?

eTwinning allows the world to be brought into the children’s classroom, and in my experiences it has provided children with an extensive knowledge and understanding of the world, whilst the element of fun has always been central to the children’s learning.

What benefits has running an international link through ICT brought to your school?

• Communication is fast and efficient
• ICT lessons and projects have a ‘real life’ purpose to them
• Enthusiasm demonstrated by all
• Excitement
• Motivation to learn
• Supporting our application for the ISA
• Children are developing their photography skills!

Specialist areas:

I acknowledge the educational benefits of ingraining internationalism as part of children’s learning.  When working for a school in Liverpool LA I led the school to achieve the full ISA.  I have provided support to other schools with regards to this.I am now incorporating internationalism within my new role at a primary school in Knowsley. It is very exciting embarking upon this journey in such a dynamic learning environment.