eTwinning: Pedagogical considerations

eTwinning: Pedagogical Considerations

Anne Gilleran – pedagogical manager

eTwinning Central Support Service

eTwinning Plus – Kiev April 2013

Today…Review the messages of our last meeting

Examine the pedagogical ideas behind eTwinning

Look at the way in which some projects are structured

Hear from 2 practitioners, Lukasz from Poland and Michael from Scotland.

Last meeting..

3 Key messages

Learning is taking place in ….

A world driven by media.

A technologically enabled world

Demands of Modern Youth Culture

Consumers CreatorsCollaborators

Leaders of tomorrow

What capabilities do they require as learners?

The teaching context summarised

The children we teach are changing

The core values of education are going through a radical change as the knowledge society impacts on institutions and ways of instruction that date mainly to the 19th Century.

We (as teachers) are mostly still seen as conservative in our methods and our views about learning.

European key competencies

Today……

Examine the pedagogical thinking behind eTwinning

3 Assumptions

The teacher is autonomous in deciding the focus of eTwinning work

The teacher is familiar with 2 pedagogical concepts– Inquiry based learning– Project based learning

Teacher does not work alone

Inquiry-based instruction is……..

a pupil-centered and teacher-guided instructional approach that engages pupils in investigating real world questions that they choose within a broad thematic framework.

pupils acquire and analyse information, develop and support propositions, provide solutions, and design products that demonstrate their thinking and make their learning visible

Project based learning

a dynamic approach to teaching in which pupils explore real-world problems and challenges.

With this type of active and engaged learning, pupils are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they're studying

3 minutes….discussion

What are the benefits to these approaches for the pupil?

Benefits of this approach

Develops problem-solving, critical thinking skills in relation to subject content

Promotes the transfer of concepts to new problem questions

Teaches pupils how to learn and builds self-directed learning skills

Develops pupil ownership of their inquiry and enhances pupil interest in the subject matter

10 steps for success in PBL…..1. Start with a guided exploration of a topic as a whole class.

2. Proceed to put pupils into small groups to discuss an open-ended, debatable, contended issue.

3. Encourage pupils to ask personally relevant and socially significant questions.

4. Work in groups to achieve diversity of views.

5. Plan well, set goals, define outcomes.

6. Find or create information...look for patterns.

7. Instruction serves as a guide to help pupils meet their goals.

8. Create a tangible artifact that addresses the issue, answers questions, and makes learning visible and accountable.

9. Arrive at a conclusion...take a stand...take action.

10. Document, justify, and share conclusion with larger audience.

eTwinning project concept…

Takes all this into account

+

Adds the concept of collaboration

Exploring project kits

http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/collaborate/kits.htm

Talking with

Lukasz and Michael…..

Questions to ask before starting…..What kind of partner school should it be?

· What age should the pupils in the partner class have?

· Project language?

· Subjects the project should be related to

· Concrete ideas and suggestions for the project

· Tools I’d like to use

· What is of special importance for an eTwinning partnership?

Tomorrow

We will explore the project messages in the forum

See if they are matching some of the conditions mentioned today

Try to match teachers to projects.

Thank you for your attention!

eTwinning portal:www.etwinning.net

Contacts:[email protected]