Examples of 2016 eTwinning Plus best practices

The most successful projects that were awarded European Quality Labels in 2016 are briefly described below and can be used as a source of inspiration for new educational partnerships.

  1. ‘Family in the children’s eyes’, teacher Iulia Berdos (Theoretical Lyceum ‘Alexandru cel Bun’)

Justification of choice: The project brings schools and pupils from totally different environments, countries and cultures around the idea of a family, and inserts through their interaction a ‘red thread’ of human values ​​throughout the world. Planning undergoes all the necessary stages, and the virtual space is rich. The project is designed and implemented for pupils, ensuring that they interact with their partners. There are many ways of working: exchanging information, working on common topics, but also in collaboration with transnational teams in order to produce common materials, such as collaborative stories. The activities are creative and innovative (e.g. Cinquins) and some of them have social and educational impact (visits to children’s homes). The final product – online magazine – is attractive and can be used as material and example in other projects. The project can be a model for topics such as community involvement, citizenship, social activity, intercultural knowledge.

Project web link https://twinspace.etwinning.net/16806/home

  1. CRYSTALs, teacher Rita Godoroja (Theoretical Lyceum ‘Spiru Haret’)

Justification of choice: The project is notable for the originality of the topic chosen, but especially for the association between academic rigor and creativity. This is a good example of transdisciplinarity, and the educational aspect of the project is due to stimulus for self-awareness, the analysis of moral values ​​that the involved pupils in their teenage years consider important. The development and management of the project by partner teachers are excellent at all stages of the project: from planning to feedback, assessment and dissemination. There are common products, although, there are no transnational activities unfortunately, and the virtual space is well organized. Selected ICT tools are suitable for the age of pupils and are used by them, not only by teachers. The project can be a model for teaching STEM subjects with creativity and emotional engagement.

Project web link https://twinspace.etwinning.net/13473/home

  1. Be KIND – Be Keen to Involve in Noble Deed, teacher Liliana Nederita (East Europe Foundation)

Justification of choice: This project, through the way it is organized and not only, is an excellent example of a short-term project, organized on occasion of an event, namely – the International Random Acts of Kindness Week. Most of the events for pupils were held during one week, although preparatory activities – assessment and finalization of common products took place before or after that. Every day of the week was dedicated to some good deeds, carried out and documented using ICT tools in all partner schools. This technology was also used by pupils, not just by teachers. The general results of the project were numerous and adequate: a web page, a multilingual thematic dictionary in English, Romanian, Croatian, Ukrainian and Turkish and an electronic journal. Communication between pupils was real, through various channels, including Skype and Facebook.

Project web link https://twinspace.etwinning.net/17464/home

  1. The world around us – seasons, teacher Oxana Coroleac (Children’s Technical Creation Centre)

Justification of choice: This is a project where young (6-10 years) familiarize themselves with the evolution of seasons through various forms of artistic expression: music, painting, poetry, staging, collages, photographs. Children were involved in both artistic reception and creation, combining the two types of activities, for example, by creating lapbooks based on Vivaldi’s music. The project was well integrated into the life of partner schools, through organization of artistic performances on the Day of Spring. Communication between partners was real, despite the young age of pupils, and was achieved through a number of channels: video conferences, letters, small gifts, videos, etc. Knowledge of the partners’ culture included the exchange of cooking recipes, a general dictionary, etc. Organization and planning are clear and complete, and it is worth noting the project’s impact on pupils and teachers.

Project web link https://twinspace.etwinning.net/10291/home

  1. Open the Gates to the Universe, teachers Ana Ceban (Theoretical Real-Profile Lyceum ‘Mihai Marinciuc’)

Justification of choice: The project aims to attract primary school pupils towards science, giving them the role of small astronauts who will familiarize themselves with simple concepts of astronomy and space sciences through collaborative activities in English. Communication between pupils was a clear objective for teachers; video conferences were held, common topics were worked on and there are common products, including the project blog. Pupils learned about the solar system, life in space or famous cosmonauts by visiting museums, mutual learning, jointly created games. They exchanged experiments, wrote collaborative stories and one after another had the mini-astronaut Yuri as their guest. Joint activities, including transnational work efforts, led to a tangible common final product, produced using collaborative and appropriate kits. The project is a model of learning through the game, suitable for younger age, and was awarded the European eTwinning Prize.

Project web link https://twinspace.etwinning.net/12520/home

Examples of 2017 good practices

  1. Second Trip to Fairy-tale (Cecilia Morohai, Theoretical Lyceum ‘Stefanesti’, Floresti)

The aim of the project is to invite new members to fairy-tale clubs for the exchange of folktales; to engage children in reading and sharing the experience they receive in illustrations and projections that will help children perceive fairy-tales of different cultures. Knowing that reading skills should be learned from childhood, pupils will develop games based on topics for reading fairy-tales and will share the mentioned games with other colleagues.

This project manages to offer various activities, which are appropriate to the age of the pupils, creative and held outside class, for the relatively frequently used topic of stimulating interest in reading. Teachers have developed communication and exchange of information as the first step towards real collaboration between pupils. Collaborative activities go beyond communication: the partners are not just recipients of information; they are team members, co-authors and co-creators. The project includes methodological resources that can also be of use to other teachers interested in this topic.

Project web link: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/32269/home

  1. Spring Brings (Iulia Berdos, Theoretical Lyceum ‘Teoretic Alexandru cel Bun’, Stefan Voda)

The aim of the project: The pupils will develop communication skills, while speaking about the spring in their country. The cultural field and interculturality are most often used in this project, because pupils will share traditions and customs. They will have to use their writing skills to create a new vacation and to write about the symbols. Their communication skills using English as a foreign language will be improved during the project.

The project involves an interactive and collaborative active pedagogy: learning methods implemented are clearly identifiable (information gathering, comparative work, problem solving, collaborative creation). Pupils at the end of primary school classes and beginning of lower secondary school are placed in real situations of communication using English, including through real-time video conferences. The topic of spring is used in a creative and entertaining manner. Common activities and products are excellent and numerous. Project documentation is maintained at all stages.

Project web link:

  1. Water – All Around (Lilia Pasa, Theoretical Lyceum ‘Evrica’)

This project aims to acquaint pupils with methods of efficient use of water. Pupils have acquired and strengthened their knowledge about the multiple roles of water in nature and human activity. The project facilitates and promotes knowledge and assessment of water resources, the role of water and the properties of water through online creation of various products.

This is a cross-curricular project dedicated to the theme of water in terms of several STEM subjects: chemistry, physics, geography, biology, and mathematics. The project activity is an integral part of the school activity on a school subject; the teacher clearly follows the curriculum through the eTwinning project. The collaborative aspect of the activity is well illustrated, and communication is real one. The selected kits correspond to the topic and objectives, and are also used by pupils. The project is an opportunity to share and learn from each other about new technologies. Attention is also paid to copyright.

Project web link: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/30865/home

  1. Bringing Generations Together (Liliana Nederita, Lyceum of Modern Languages and Management)

The aim of the project is to make pupils understand that, despite cultural and personal differences, people are so similar. This is a project aimed at gaining knowledge about generations and older countries. Participating in the project, pupils will develop tolerance between generations and cultures.

The project addresses an important topic, namely intergenerational dialogue, in a fascinating and ingenious manner. The activities are designed and implemented for pupils, so that they interact with their partners through a wide range of working procedures, including as part of transnational teams. All kits are used by teachers and pupils to work together and exchange information, so that communication and interaction between them are real. The kits are used in such a way as to ensure the success of the pedagogical objectives of the project.

Project web link:

  1. Reading Creates Imagination…(Oxana Coroleac, Children’s Technical Creation Centre)

The project was implemented in the Republic of Moldova as part of non-formal (extracurricular) education. It has some extraordinary features that lead its activities to a higher level of quality. One of them is the development of very collaborative activities in real time: a reading marathon, which was simultaneously attended by hundreds of children from 5 schools, a Japanese traditional theatre show with the same text, written in collaboration, but staged according to the director’s vision of each school. Another outstanding feature is the engagement of the local community, through parents, including in the assessment of the project.

Project web link:

  1. The Chemical Tree (Rita Godoroja, Lyceum of Modern Languages and Management)

The aim of the project:

1. All eTwinning project participants from different countries will determine their chemical elements according to the formula and date of birth.
2. Pupils will identify three common properties between the element under research and personal characteristics and will create a video presentation.
3. All participants will create the Chemical Tree through cooperation.

There is a very strong association between academic rigor and creativity in the development and management of the project by partner teachers, as well as originality in the chosen topic. Curricular integration is clear and documented. Teachers in the project tried various pedagogical methods, including encouraging pupils to choose their own ways of searching and displaying information, etc. Activities included games, surveys, tests, etc., which are designed to encourage pupils to read, listen and visualize the works of their partners and collaborate.

Project web link: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/21094/home

  1. “Peer Bullying” in schools (Angela Dimitriu, College of Ecology, Chisinau municipality)

Within the project, some studies on peer bullying were carried out and shared with partners. As part of the project, solutions for cultural adaptation of pupils were searched and identified.

The topic of the project is of undeniable importance and usefulness. There are various working methods, which are appropriate to different age of the pupils involved, creative and used outside class. Communication between pupils was a clear objective for teachers, common topics were worked on and external communication channels (video conferences) were also used. The work on common topics is carried out, and pupils can see how the partners work. Unfortunately, most of the work is done in parallel. The selected kits correspond to the topic and objectives, and are also used by pupils.

Project web link: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/24582/home

The eTwinning Plus programme is part of the Erasmus+,  the European programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport