Comenius individual pupil mobility

Hello everybody,

since I know many of us are involved in Comenius projects, I thought maybe you'll be interested in Comenius individual pupil mobility as well.



Comenius individual pupil mobility is the newborn in the "Comenius family" (it's been running for the first year in this 2010) and it involves Upper Secondary schools - for the moment, only in some EU countries.



Secondary schools that are or have been involved in a Comenius School Partnership can apply for grants to send pupils to one or more of their Comenius partner schools. This action gives the secondary school pupils the chance to spend between 3 and 10 months in a host school and a host family abroad. It broadens their understanding of the diversity of European cultures and languages and helps them to acquire the skills they need for their personal development. Please note that this year only the schools from the following countries can participate in the action: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.



Too bad I teach in a Lower Secondary school - and too bad I'm not a student!!! I would have loved this.



If you're running a successful Comenius project and you'd like your pupils to try something new and challenging, you can learn more about Comenius individual pupil mobility in the European Commission website (or just ask your NA!).

Have fun you all, and keep up experimenting with LLP!

Laura

Italiano-che bella lingua!!

Dear LLT Friends,
as you know, together with Laura, we have an eTwinning project: Be Twin- twinning up the everyday lesson.
I am really happy, the project gives a really strong motivation to my pupils to study Italian languague, as the languague of our friends. Children learn Italian, changed messages on Pupils' corner, and letters by fax. So, the project helps building friendship and helps me, as a techer to make Italian lessons using ICT tools with my pupils.
Hungarian twins had the possibility to take part in a summer camp, where one of our Italian lesson was registered. It was a part of a national competition, where our task was make lessons with ICT tools, digital board.
For us it was a pleasure to take an Italian lesson, and we used ICT tools, what we use together with our Italian friends on TwinSpace as well.
We are happy, because at the and our lesson and project is between the best projects in the competition.
I would like to give you a link, where you can see a part of our special Italian lesson.
Hope, you like it.:-)
http://www.sulinet.hu/iktmuhely_2010/tanitasi_orak/elo_idegen_nyelv/la_scuola/index.html

Future programme in the field of Education and training (2014-2020)

Hi friends,

I'm sure you already know about this, but the EU needs our opinion and hints in order to arrange the new programme for Education and Training in 2013. LLP, in fact, will run until 31 December 2013. In order to shape its successor, we're all asked to contribute with our ideas !!!

So, if you haven't yet, take part in the CONSULTATION for the future programme in the field of Education and training (2014-2020).


Let the EU know your ideas !

Hugs to you all,

Laura

Bridges of Water - Comenius Project

Hello everybody,

here's another story of eTwinning and Comenius meeting and hopefully building successful didactic pathways!

We're a group of teachers who met via the eTwinning portal & Comenius in-service training (Monika, Silvia, Maria, Aysegul... and me of course!). We built a project together and had it funded for 2010 - 2012. Here's our first meeting in Spain - where some time was devoted to eTwinning as well, as an useful tool for dissemination and communication among pupils and teachers.

Now, that's for sure a step towards Europe !!!

Hugs to you all, and to your students as well :)

Laura

Welcome to a new eTwinning Teachers' Room!

Dear everybody,

I have just created a new Teachers' Room for us. It is called "eTwinning Project Trailers" and I believe you should join it as it is my belief that together we can make project trailers become a powerful new tool in giving visibility to an eTwinning project. Whether the project has just been registered and its founders are looking for more partners, or it has reached a 'dead point' in its lifetime because of a partner's (or a few partners') withdrawal, or it has just ended and a quick preview of its results and benefits is needed for the eTwinning Prizes or for the eLearning Awards, a video trailer online could just be a great way to entice fellow eTwinners and others!

Do join!

Looking forward to welcoming you,

Daniela.

Happy Twins

Together with Monika, we celebrated in May eTwinning 5th Birthday in our BE-TWIN project. Thank to our students, we won our National competition and received these cute T-shirts. Here are the proud happy pupils (and happy teacher as well).

As we always say, working in eTwinning is all about having fun... :)

Welcome to a brand new eTwinning group!

I would like to welcome all of you to a brand new eTwinning group!



"Visibility of eTwinning Projects" is a community of teachers whose purpose is to devise, implement, evaluate and improve guidelines for boosting the visibility of eTwinning projects.

We can do this here in this new eTwinning group by promoting the eTwinning action as part of Comenius - the EU programme for schools -, sharing experience and knowledge, promoting imaginative ideas, giving constructive feedback, giving inspiration about how to make the most of eTwinning projects, strengthening the feeling of belonging to a truly European network!

Let's start MAKING THE RIGHT WAVES then!



This is the url of the group: http://groups.etwinning.net/web/visibility-of-etwinning-projects/welcome

If you want to be part of this group, please contact me through the eTwinning portal or directly through email:
daniela2000_ro[at]yahoo.com
or
arghir.daniela[at]gmail.com

Do join!

Mario Vargas Llosa!

Congratulation all Spanish speaking people! Noble Prize to an old favoutite; Mario Vargas Llosa!
Absolutely worth reading!

Peace is...

Hello everybody,

as you may know, we celebrate today the International Day of Peace. In this very special day, I'd like to share with you the works of European students on the line "Peace is...". This is a little precious project, an example of how teachers and pupils all over Europe can work together without looking for awards, fame or money, just in order to build a bridge between different cultures, and create PEACE by sharing.

The project was created by Stephen Wheatley: and I thank him for this simple great idea that brought our celebrations to a whole different level this year . We just exchanged our pupils' drawings, presentations, poems etc. based on the title "Peace is...". Then we reflected on the works of our partners and... we tried to imagine them, drawing or writing or just sitting at their desks, in their classrooms. And all at once, our classroom was full of students celebrating with us - students coming from all over Europe.

So thanks again to Stephen Wheatley, St Dominic Catholic Primary
School, Harpenden, UK

and to all the partners in this project:

Carmen – Mirela Roman – Scoala au clasele I-VIII Nr 12, Romania
Edita Dolezavola – Komenskeho 474, Most, Czech Repuplic
Mar Gomez – Ceip San Jose, Las Matas, Spain
Inga Klinauskiene – Kursenu Stasio Aglickio Basic School, Lithuania
Vida Sinkeviciene – Saule Private School, Vilnius, Lithuania
Anne Marie Jacob – The Oaks Pupil Referal Unit, Amersham, UK

I'd like to leave you this time quoting Stephen's words, that reflect my point of view as well on this - or any - European project:

"For me, this project represents what peace truly is and gives me great hope in the abilities of the next generation to set aside their differences for a brighter, more tolerant and peaceful future."

wishing you all peace and joy in your lives,

Laura

Patricio Anabalón - Itaca

A moto for the new course

old quarter street in Corfu

Marika's new post with the videos of Cavafi's poem have brought to my mind a souvenir of my summer holidays. I visited in Corfu the house of Dionysos Solomos, another great Greek poet , which has been made a museum. In the exhibition I came across a line of his works which touched me . It was this:

Συχνά τά στήθη εκούρασα,
ποτέ την καλοσύνη
My chest often got tired,
never my kindness

I pass it to you because I think it is a nice line to spread in European classrooms and as a kind of present for you all in these busy days of the beginning of the school year.

6 thinking hats and creativity

Her is a video we made in our group 21 (Tatjana, Daniela, Maria, Seval, Dim  and me) for the eTwinning Learning Event Exploiting Web 2.0 - eTwinning and Collaboration;



http://lifelonglearningteachers.blogspot.com/2010/04/technique-six-thinking-hats-technique.html

Fabio Volo legge Itaca di Costantino Kavafis

For our friends in Italy..

Kavafis Itaca

Long live the LLT!

I'm sad to hear that the LLT-project - the Twin Space - will close. But everything must come to an end!
BUT - really glad to know that the blog will live on! I'm absolutely interested in staying in LLT further on! I'm happy and proud of beeing a member of this European network of teachers!

I'm now working with a project called "Small Schools in Europe" trying to tie bonds of friendship between teachers and students at small rural schools - we have so much in common and yet so much to learn about each other. I hope it will lead to a Comenius project, but so far we run it as an eTwinning.
I wish you all a happy and fruitful school year!
Big hugs to you all from a beautifully autumn coloured Fredrika!
yours
Agneta

Disseminate the spirit of LLT !

This Counterfeit tag is exaggerated, of course, but it’s clear that eTw groups are inspired by LLT community.
This is a great success for the LLT laboratory. The official trade-mark is now eTw group, and we all know where it comes from!

I first registered in Math-Science group, then Science sub-group. My observation is that the life and the success of a group or sub-group is based on the leaders not on the subject or its aims.
You can make the comparative test here :
Maths : http://groups.etwinning.net/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=14782
Sciences : http://groups.etwinning.net/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=17840
The tools of a group space are the same as a twinspace (blog - Gallery – etc ..)

2nd there was an announce for creating new groups. I asked for creating an “Experimental Sciences” group, and received a planning form to fill in, from Donatella. I asked to my partners, and published a message for that on eTw forum : partner finding. Then, we collaborated in a wiki (around 20members) to discuss about the form.
We sent the form to Donatella and she answered :
“Dear Eric,
I have read the planning tool and it looks fine to me….”
There is now an official announce for this group and others on :
http://www.etwinning.net/en/pub/professional_development/etwinning_groups.htm

Who has registered in a group, who participates in a creation of a group among us?
I’d like to know if you disseminate the spirit of LLT !

holidays - vacanze - vakàciò !!!!!

Hello friends !!! Just few lines to wish you all happy holidays in this last part of summer. Together with Monika, I'm in Castiglione della Pescaia (Tuscany), a beautiful castle by the sea, having fun.
Now, that's evidence eTwinning works well in building friendships =)
Have fun you all,

Laura e Monika


Kedves eTwinning baràtok,
sokat gondolunk ràtok )
Szèp nyarat,

Mònika ès Laura)

Gender Differencies in Educational Outcomes

'Gender Differencies in Educational Outcomes: Measures
Taken and Current Situation in Europe' is a new study of the Eurydice net on the different measures introduced by European countries to deal with gender differencies in learning. And it looks like stereotypes are still the first enemy to fight.
Have a look at the study, you can download the English version here.

eTwinning Groups: news, experiences, ideas

Following Irene's post in the TwinSpace forum, I'd like to introduce the topic of eTwinning Groups here as well.
eTwinning Groups are the greatest eTw news of this summer, and obviuosly the CSS is betting on their success.

Anyway, I felt we have so little information about what they are about. Just like many other teachers, I am waiting to see what happens next, and not joining in any of them because I don't know what I'll be asked to do (and what I can ask from Groups as well).

Are they a larger version of LLT? Maybe less general, dealing with a more specific subject? What kind of output is expected out of a Group? Are there "tasks" to accomplish, or one's contribute is supposed to be free?

These are just some of the questions that came to my mind. It feels weird to join something, when you're actually not sure of what this "something" is. Anyway, I'm very curious and as always excited about anything that's new. And I suppose lots of us will eventually give a try to this kind of professional "blind date" =)

If you have any idea, news or personal experience as a Group's member or organizer/moderator, please let us know. It would be extremely interesting to get to know about this new way to be together and grow in our job.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Laura

Europa

Hello everybody!
Before wishing each other a nice summer time, I'd like to share with you these interesting links I just re-discovered in my pc. I believe some of you told me about them, so thank you to whoever it was. I'm just spreading the useful info now:

http://europa.eu/
http://europa.eu/teachers-corner/index_en.htm

Have a look (and enjoy the sunny days as well!)

Laura

Excursion to the island of Aegina!...27/4/2010

Aegina - The Tower!

Aegina -A Church

Aegina the port!

The Temple of AFEA!

Corinth

EU children)

Dear LLT Friends,

I would like to share with you one my experience, what I hope, many of you lived in your "teacher-life".:-)

Last week I travelled to Germany, in one of our partner school, in Bremen. It was a beautiful week for me. Just immagine, I went there with two my colleagues and 3 pupils. And, we met many children and teachers from 10 other countries!! Together at about 50 people.

We wisited the school, the town, hamburg, had the possibility to have more information about German education system.

But, for me the most beautiful experience was to see how children make friendship, how play together and how can to communicate each other.

So, as I think, this is a very important aim of every EU project: involve students as possible, and help them. And, at the end see and enjoy how built together Europe).

For me it was a nice present at the end of school year.

I put here some photos about the last week.) Hope, you like them:-)

Happy Birthday, eTwinning!

Dear LLT Friends,

I would like to put here some pictures to see you, how we celebrated the 5th eTwinning Birthday in Hungary.:-)

Thank you for sharing with us your photos! It's really nice to see them)

La aventura del saber (05/05/10)

On eTwinning birthday day, there was a spanish TV program about the event. Cristina was talking there about her awarded project "Like a bird".
Here's the link: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/la2/ultimos/dia-5.html#762854

Have a look... and for all the LLTeachers attending the eTwinning Conference in Seville it will be a nice trip through happy memories as well!

EU ministers agree on new education targets

Hello everybody! We've been talking a lot during these two school years about the Lisbon priorities and the 5 benchmarks for 2010.

And now we actually are in 2010 and the European Council is setting new benchmarks for the future.

So a 2020 strategy is being discussed. Have a look at the European Commission Website for more info: http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/news2284_en.htm

Jonathan Swift in Etwinning

With one of my classes, we're trying to integrate Etwinning into the literature syllabus. Since these days we're studying the rise of the novel in the XVIII c. England, we've decided to make some videos to be uploaded into our project about movies (Robin hood in Bollywood is the name of the project). Thus, kids have shot short videos in which they imagine to interview Swift on the theme of satire, read passages from Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal and comment on them. After shooting, we moved to the lab to upload their footage. Big fun and participation!

Regards

Mariella

One (Etwinning) thing leads to another

As a new member of this blog, I'd like to add to my first blog entry a picture which shows how an Etwinning project can lead to a school exchange and to the celebration of the 2010 European Springday. "Only connect".

Regards

Mariella

What is a Quality Label worth?

Does everyone that apply get one? Is it something to handle in to one's head master? Something to mention in a CV? Or just an encouragement for us eTwinners?
How do you use them?
I've so far put mine on the eTwinning notice-board, with the rest of our project documents and pictures, so that teachers, parents and students can see them - as a quality mark of the project.

..and watched our friends celebrating in Europe

Singing for the eTwinning

Pupils from 3rd-5th grade in Fredrika Skola, Sweden, sang a traditional Swedish birthday-song for the etwinning. It was a part of the project "Hello Europe".

Ja må han leva,

Ja må han leva,

Ja må han leva i hundrade år...
(Yes, may he live for hundreds of years.....)

5 years eTwinning in Greece!

Here we would like to share with you two videos we made for the celebrations of 5 years in our school!

Our project's song for the 5 years of eTwinning!

We chose the same music and write the words in our languages for the five years of eTwinning! Greece-Romania-Poland-Hungary-UK-Italy-Wales! Hope you enjoy it!!!

Happy Birthday eTwinning!

That's Italy & Hungary! How are you celebrating? Let us know...

Another feather in our hat....

Celebrate eTwinning’s 5th on 05/05

From OŠ Preska, Medvode, Slovenia: we celebrated 5 years of eTwinning.

Exploiting Web 2.0 - eTwinning and Collaboration

Hi friends,

it looks like lots of LLT members are interested in Web 2.0 and its incredible didactic opportunities.

I'm in the eTwinning Learning Event Exploiting Web 2.0 - eTwinning and Collaboration and I was so happy to find there Irene, Magdalena, Daniela, Eric, Tatjana and lots of other LLT members.

The course is very useful and I strongly advise all of you to try out at least one of the eTwinning on-line Learning Events.

Maybe you'll want to try with the next one, Tools for eTwinning - presenter Ioanna Kominou (19 – 28 April).

Of course, we will upload in the LLT TwinSpace the most interesting info coming from this course.

So, have fun with eTwinning everybody!

Laura

Edward de Bono Six Thinking Hats

The technique
The Six Thinking Hats technique of Edward de Bono is a model that can be used for exploring different perspectives towards a complex situation or challenge. Seeing things in various ways is often a good idea in strategy formation or complex decision-making processes.
It provides a means for groups to think together more effectively, and a means to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way.


Types of hats
The six hats and the thinking processes that they represent
White hat Facts & Information
Red hat Feelings & Emotions
Black hat Logical negative
Yellow hat Logical positive
Green hat Creative thinking & Possibilities
Blue hat Control of process & Steps

Main benefits
Main benefits of Six Thinking Hats method:
1. Allow to say things without risk
2. Create awareness that there are multiple perspectives on the issue at hand
3. Convenient mechanism for 'switching gears'
4. Rules for the game of thinking
5. Focus thinking
6. Lead to more creative thinking
7. Improve communication
8. Improve decision making

Save the world - Save the garden !

A 10 min video from my colleague Danièle , EFL teacher.
Happy Easter !

Happy Easter !!!

Happy Easter everybody, have a nice time with your family and friends, and enjoy the springtime

Laura & Monika

Useful web tools - try picnik.com

Hello everybody!

With my students we worked on images/photographs and manipulation of pictures. They introduced me to picnik, a simple and funny site, useful also with very young pupils.

All I can say is they definitely had fun with their drawings and pictures!

We also tried some of the image editing tools suggested by Daniela in the "useful web tools" folder. If you know others, please let me know as we're working with my Art colleague on this kind of activities with very good results. So you'll help me a lot!

Hugs to you all,

Laura

eTwinning and Spring Day for Europe

Hello everybody! Spring is coming (at least we hope, after this looong cold winter) and with Spring, lots of news for EU projects are on their way as well!

On May the 5th, schools all around Europe are organizing events to celebrate eTwinning 5th Birthday.

And the annual campaign of "Spring Day for Europe" is running from 22 March to 30 June 2010.

Do join in, and let us know!

Have a nice Spring you all, with LLT and European Projects!

Laura

The Arlequin

I was posting this in my project's blog and I thought why not sharing it with you as well. It was carnival time in Greece and we presented a play about Venetian Carnival to the parents. Hope you like it!!

LLT workshop - Sevilla - 6 february 2010

Participants list eTwinning conference Seville 2010 (.xls file)
http://files.etwinning.net/shared/app_uploads/twinspace/repository/31528/851-100209-082819.xls

Create links across the world

Tatjana's video (Slovenia, France, India, Romania, Argentina, Panama, Canada)

Drawing adventures from Malta & Poland :
http://resources.eun.org/etwinning/95/Collaborative_Story_Colours_of_Life_Mt_Pl1.wmv

Tandem from Hellín (Spain) & Auray (France)
http://resources.eun.org/etwinning/94/tandem_2009.wmv

Celebrating 5 years of eTwinning! 5 - 7 February 2010 in Seville, Spain

Hello everybody!

So here we are, ready to introduce LLT to our colleagues coming from everywhere in Europe. And who knows, we could find new members or get new ideas on how to go on with the project.

This is supposed to be a very special Conference, because of the 5th birthday of eTwinning. And among the nearly 500 invited participants from across Europe, there will be lots of LLT members. I was proud to find so many LLTeachers among the finalists, and I can't wait to meet them all in Seville.

Thanks to Daniela, Monika, Nieves and Marilia who will be in Seville and (hopefully) attend our workshop. And to all the others who will be there (Cristina, Carla, Tanya, Gabriela...): please come and meet us!

Remember that this year live streaming coverage will be provided by Elluminate. To follow the conference, please refer to the conference website homepage.

Of course, we will upload in the TwinSpace all materials (including our LLT presentations) we will get in Seville!

Laura