01/02/2006

Two Greek schools are amongst the winners of the European eTwinning prizes. These awards encourage collaboration between European schools and the promotion of the European multilingual and multicultural social model. The Greek prize winners are the 7th Lyceum of Peristeri, and the Intercultural Gymnasium of Thessaloniki, which were awarded their prizes for the categories of "Pedagogical innovation" and "Digital resources" for the 13-19 age group.

The prizes were given on 13 January 2006, in Linz, Austria, by Jan Figel, Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, as well as by Ministers for Education from different European countries. A total of 320 projects entered the contest. The 12 finalists, as chosen by a European committee of experts, were presented during a three-day conference. The final prize (a four-day camp on the island of Lanzarote for 20 people from each winning partnership) was awarded to the following projects:

5-12 age group:
- School collaboration: "Talking Through Time", Cauldeen Primary School (United Kingdom), Dun Salv Portelli Primary School (Malta).
The project developed and exchanged curricular materials to enable pupils to research, exchange and collect memories on World War II together.

- Pedagogical innovation: "Learning and Sharing", Oriveden Keskuskoulu (Finland), Iglemyr Skole (Norway).
The project's goal was to develop the pupils' Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and English communication skills through the use of a virtual learning environment. Every month, new topics were discussed in forums and chats.

- Digital resources: "Playing and Learning", Escuela Infantil Gloria Fuertes (Spain), Przedszkole Publiczne nr 5, Glogow (Poland).
For this project, teachers applied common methodologies and material, using ICT to exchange information on cultures and to teach English at pre-school level.

13-19 age group:
- School collaboration: "Internetzeitung und u.a. Austausch von Texten zur Unterstutzung beim Erlernen der deutschen Sprache", Bischofliche Maria-Montessori-Gesamtschule (Germany), Sukromne gymnazium Presov (Slovakia).
The project's objective was to create a common Internet newspaper and to exchange texts supporting the learning of the German language.

- Pedagogical innovation: "Europe, Education, Ecole - Club de Philosophie", Lycee de Sevres (France), Liceo Classico "Ludovico Antonio Muratori" (Italy), Ecole Dzukija Alytus (Lithuania), 7th Lyceum of Peristeri, (Greece), Gymnazium J.G. Tajovskeho, Banska Bystrica (Slovakia), Gymnasium Matyase Lerche, Brno (Czech Republic).
The project developed a network of long distance (ICT) exchanges between pupils and teachers regarding the role of culture, education and schools in a Europe of tomorrow. The project included a video conference, weekly on-line work areas and a digital resources area.

- Digital Resources: "Crop Circles challenge", Sint-Donatus Instituut (Belgium), ITCS "Cesare Vivante" (Italy), Intercultural Gymnasium of Thessalonica (Greece)
The partners in the project used the same free mathematics software to develop and create material for teaching math and other science subjects. The pupils obtained a more active role in learning, and teachers used the school network to share experiences and discuss teaching concepts.

eTwinning is one of the four axes of the eLearning initiative, which has already attracted interest from 11,300 schools all over Europe. Greece is in the top ten spots for participation. The activities of eTwinning give pupils and teachers the opportunity to become acquainted with the education culture of other peoples, to learn by working together and to create friendships. Moreover, youth are given a chance to practice their IT skills, which improves the pedagogical process and adds value to conventional learning.

Source: eTwinning