An introduction to the eTwinning tools_EN

An introduction to the eTwinning tools

There are three layers to eTwinning

The Public Portal

1

2

3

The Desktop

The TwinSpace

Layer 1: The Public Portal

1

Layer 2: The Desktop

2

Layer 3: The TwinSpace

3

Each Layer has its own tools

The Public Portal

The Desktop

The TwinSpace

Tools on the Public Portal

The Public Portal – Tools for Information

The Discover Section tells you what eTwinning is all about and how you can get involved

The Connect Section allows you to browse for potential partner schools and teachers

The Progress Section provides information on eTwinning workshops and other Professional Development opportunities


The Keep up-to-date Section has the latest news about what’s happening in eTwinning


You can also see the latest eTwinning statistics, e.g. How many Teachers are currently registered

The Public Portal – Tools for Inspiration

The Collaborate Section will inspire you with project ideas and examples

The Public Portal – Tools for Inspiration

The People Say Section contains inspiring interviews and case studies from eTwinning teachers and policy makers

The Public Portal – Tools for Registration

Click on the Register button to access the registration tool, which will give allow you to become part of the eTwinning community

This is the Pre-registration page, where you can complete the first part of your registration with eTwinning

The Public Portal – Tools for Support

The Get Support section provides you with Step-by-step guidance on how to use the eTwinning Desktop and TwinSpace

Tools on the Desktop

Once you’ve registered on eTwinning you will get access to the Desktop – this is where you can search for partners, communicate with peers all over Europe, register projects and much more . . .

The Desktop – Tools for Information

You can find out news from your own country

You can find out what’s new in the eTwinning community

The Desktop – Tools for Social Networking

My eTwinning Life is a tool that automatically records your activity on the eTwinning platform

By registering, you create a Profile on eTwinning, which means that other people will be able to see your information and interact with you

The Desktop – Tools for Social NetworkingYou can use My Journal to keep others updated on your progress and new project ideasYou can use the Contacts tool to

keep in touch with people you have met on the eTwinning platform

The Desktop – Tools for Communication

You can use the Internal messaging system to communicate with your Contacts and potential partners

The Desktop – Tools for Finding Partners

You can use the Search Function tool to look for potential partners

You can also leave a message on the Partner Finding Forum, one of the most effective way of finding new partners for your project

The Desktop – Tools for Finding Partners

When you find a partner you can use the Message or Add Contact tools to get in touch with them

The Desktop – Tools for Project Management

Other project management tools let you invite new members, get support, write about your project etc

You can use the Create a new Project tool to register a project with your partner school(s)

By clicking on the Project title, you can access the project’s homepage


The Project Diary allows you to keep others updated on how your project is progressing


The Project Card allows you to keep in touch with your National Support service, to let them know how you’re getting on or to ask them for advice and support

The Desktop – Tools for Professional Development

Anyone can set up a Teachers’ Room – these are informal areas, easy to join and usually have a specific objective


eTwinning Groups have been set up around topic areas – by joining an eTwinning Group, you can get involved in discussions with your peers and share best practice


Learning Events are online training events that are available for teachers registered on eTwinning. They usually last a couple of weeks and take place on an external platform


The Resources tool allows you to search for useful resources that have been shared by others. You can also upload resources that you think other people will find useful

The Desktop – Tools for Support

The Helpdesk provides you with lots of practical support and also a Forum where you can post questions and ask for help from other eTwinners!

Tools on the TwinSpace

The Twinspace itself is a tool which you get access to, once your project registration has been approved by your National Support Service (NSS)

The TwinSpace – Tools for Project Planning

The TwinSpace calendar is perfect for planning the timeframe of your project

The TwinSpace – Tools for Collaboration

The TwinSpace has a member management tool – here, you can invite pupils and manage their access to the TwinSpace

The TwinSpace – Tools for Collaboration

The Project Activities tool allows you to do all of your project work – you can organise your work into ‘Activity Pages’

The TwinSpace – Tools for CollaborationThe Applications Wizard lets you build up an Activity page, with a choice of 6 different applications

Applications include Collaboration tools like blogs and wikis, but also sharing tools like the File Archive and Image Gallery, a Discussion Forum for communication and a Web content tool to embed content from the Internet

The TwinSpace – Tools for Communication

You can use the Internal Mailing system to communicate with other people in your TwinSpace


There is a special area in the TwinSpace where Teachers can communicate with each other – this area is not seen by Pupil members


There is also a special area in the TwinSpace where pupils can communicate with each other. This is quite a useful tool if would you like your pupils to have some experience managing an online communication platform


If you wish to communicate with your TwinSpace partners in real-time, the Chat tool is perfect for doing so

The TwinSpace – Tools for Support

If you’re New to TwinSpace you can follow our recommended first steps

The TwinSpace – Tools for Support

Or you can refer to the TwinSpace Guidelines

If you wish to share your work with people who are not part of the project you will need to send them the Public link to your TwinSpace – they will then be able to see all of the Activity pages you have published

The TwinSpace – Tools for Dissemination

Another way to disseminate information about your project is by using the TwinSpace Blog – the blog will be published by default, however, readers will need the specific TwinSpace link to see it and it won’t appear as a result on common search engines


You can use the Publishing tool to publish any of your Activity pages. Again, these will only be accessible to those who are directed to the TwinSpace using the public link


Education

An introduction to the eTwinning tools_EN