A journey into eTwinning stories

Through these webinars, eTwinners shared valuable insights from their teaching practices. 

The aim was to inspire eTwinners in their own projects and activities. They discussed strategies to empower teachers, challenges they have overcome in their careers and resources that have shaped their educational paths. 

The journey began with last year’s prize winners. Natalia Tzitzi, Justyna Babiarz-Furmanek and Anita Šimac shared the key experiences that led to their recognition:

• Natalia and Justyna discussed the importance of ‘giving students the floor and letting them be autonomous in their collaboration and idea creation’. They talked about useful tools such as assessment aids, Kahoot games and quizzes, to make learning engaging and playful. 
• Anita encouraged flexibility and open-mindedness, and detailed the benefits of building strong networks. Her advice to teachers was clear: ‘Take time to explore eTwinning's tools, resources and guidelines.’

Next, we heard from the moderators of the featured groups. Daniela Bunea and Suzana Delić offered their ideas:

• Daniela, an expert in school wellbeing, encouraged participants to reflect on the benefits of awe and wonder in education. Her key tip: ‘Foster a sense of wonder to create a supportive and inspiring learning environment.’ 
• Suzana discussed the use of music as a tool for addressing disinformation and preventing fake news. She also shared how tools such as AI, video conferencing and even chess can encourage adaptation, collaboration and creativity in teaching.

eTwinning ambassadors also shared their innovative practices:

• Mario Guedes, who has extensive experience as an eTwinning ambassador in Portugal, focused on digital approaches like virtual reality, gamification and collaborative content creation. He showcased examples such as chatbots, animated videos and educational games, while also addressing challenges, including balancing administrative tasks with teaching.
• Jenni Decandia, a Finnish eTwinning ambassador, shared tips on ‘differentiation’. She uses eTwinning to assign students different tasks or activities and help them achieve shared goals. Her advice to teachers for managing time constraints: ‘Prioritise tasks, set realistic goals, and create a schedule’.

The journey isn’t over! The events will continue in December with stories from the 2024 European prizes runners-up. Check the  ‘webinars’ section to secure your spot for these upcoming sessions.