eTwinning is a continuous success in Malta
This year's national eTwinning conference and awards for Malta were held on May 25, and provided the successful conclusion of another positive scholastic year for this EU initiative that brings together European schools to work in joint projects in...
This year's national eTwinning conference and awards for Malta were held on May 25, and provided the successful conclusion of another positive scholastic year for this EU initiative that brings together European schools to work in joint projects in learning.
The first part of the conference consisted of a number of workshops where some ICT tools that could be used for eTwinning projects were introduced and participants had the opportunity to practise their use. The workshops not only introduced the software, but more importantly presented their potential in an educational setting.
Participation was very encouraging and included many teachers, heads of schools, national eTwinning coordinators from Finland, Iceland and France and Ministry of Education and Education Division authorities.
The most expected part of the evening was the presentation of the eTwinning awards. There were six high-calibre finalists out of 19 entries. Finalists delivered short presentations on their projects.
There are 146 projects involving Maltese schools, with 226 teachers from 96 schools registered. In all, there are around 26,000 registered schools from across Europe.
"This is a very good rate when compared to much larger countries," Emile Vassallo, the national eTwinning coordinator for Malta, explained to i-Tech. "In eTwinning you can register yourself but then never start a project - in Malta this is not the case as a large percentage of registered teachers carry out projects. It is also very positive to notice that teachers tend to start a new project after they finish another one - this is proof that teachers are realising the potential of this action."
Mr Vassallo thinks Malta's participation is positive but there is room for improvement.
"We can become the only country in Europe with all schools registered for eTwinning and this is the goal of the Maltese eTwinning support service for the near future. Numbers are not the entire story. The quality of the projects is also very important and we are doing well in this field as well.
"Last year one of our schools won the European eTwinning prize and this year another of our projects came second among very tough competition from hundreds of schools from 27 countries."
The Maltese eTwinning national support service will continue to take every possible opportunity to provide training in innovative tools teachers can use to motivate pupils and make learning an even more rewarding experience for all. Malta will be hosting a European professional development workshop next year and this is expected to attract over 50 teachers from different European countries. This will provide Maltese teachers with the opportunity to meet counterparts, share experiences and plan projects face to face.
"I know that many teachers are already making plans for next year's projects and others are thinking of joining the eTwinning family for the first time. I am confident that it will continue to be a success among our teachers.
"I must congratulate all the eTwinning teachers for the dedication and innovation they are demonstrating in their work," concluded Mr Vassallo.
http://www.etwinning.net
The first part of the conference consisted of a number of workshops where some ICT tools that could be used for eTwinning projects were introduced and participants had the opportunity to practise their use. The workshops not only introduced the software, but more importantly presented their potential in an educational setting.
Participation was very encouraging and included many teachers, heads of schools, national eTwinning coordinators from Finland, Iceland and France and Ministry of Education and Education Division authorities.
The most expected part of the evening was the presentation of the eTwinning awards. There were six high-calibre finalists out of 19 entries. Finalists delivered short presentations on their projects.
There are 146 projects involving Maltese schools, with 226 teachers from 96 schools registered. In all, there are around 26,000 registered schools from across Europe.
"This is a very good rate when compared to much larger countries," Emile Vassallo, the national eTwinning coordinator for Malta, explained to i-Tech. "In eTwinning you can register yourself but then never start a project - in Malta this is not the case as a large percentage of registered teachers carry out projects. It is also very positive to notice that teachers tend to start a new project after they finish another one - this is proof that teachers are realising the potential of this action."
Mr Vassallo thinks Malta's participation is positive but there is room for improvement.
"We can become the only country in Europe with all schools registered for eTwinning and this is the goal of the Maltese eTwinning support service for the near future. Numbers are not the entire story. The quality of the projects is also very important and we are doing well in this field as well.
"Last year one of our schools won the European eTwinning prize and this year another of our projects came second among very tough competition from hundreds of schools from 27 countries."
The Maltese eTwinning national support service will continue to take every possible opportunity to provide training in innovative tools teachers can use to motivate pupils and make learning an even more rewarding experience for all. Malta will be hosting a European professional development workshop next year and this is expected to attract over 50 teachers from different European countries. This will provide Maltese teachers with the opportunity to meet counterparts, share experiences and plan projects face to face.
"I know that many teachers are already making plans for next year's projects and others are thinking of joining the eTwinning family for the first time. I am confident that it will continue to be a success among our teachers.
"I must congratulate all the eTwinning teachers for the dedication and innovation they are demonstrating in their work," concluded Mr Vassallo.
http://www.etwinning.net