collaborative learning
Using Activity Theory to understand the contradictions in an online transatlantic collaboration between student-teachers of English as a Foreign Language
This article describes the contradictions reported by student-teachers in Barcelona who engaged in telecollaboration with transatlantic peers via Second Life, during their initial training in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
The data analysis draws upon grounded theory and is theoretically informed by Activity Theory and the notion of contradictions. The study discusses technology-based, intra- and inter-institutional contradictions, their impact on the development of the telecollaborative activity, and outcomes in bolstering student-teachers’ conceptual understanding of Network-Based Language Instruction.
Virtual collaboration, ‘perezhivanie’ and teacher learning: A socio-cultural-historical perspective
This article discusses specific examples of virtually mediated interactions involving two transatlantic groups of student-teachers who engaged in a task-based telecollaborative project for the purposes of a teacher education course.
The Vygotskyan framework of learning and development and particularly the construct of Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) in a collaborative frame serve as the theoretical basis of this study. This article aims to: (1) analyze the essentially language-mediated interactions to trace instantiations of virtual collaboration developmentally (2) discuss teacher learning outcomes of the (tele)collaborative activity, and (3) examine learning as expansion of what was explicitly proposed as objectives of the course, resulting from reasoned action i.e., reflection on the process and outcomes of the activity. The findings suggest that the effective integration of telecollaborative activities in pre-service teacher education programmes can enhance teacher learning in significant ways.
Interview with Katerina Zourou
Review and Revive VET Practices
REVIVE VET project aims to review and revive VET practices applying innovative ICT integration methodologies and building online communities of VET professionals, who collaboratively work together, seeking to improve the quality, attractiveness and accessibility of VET services.
Specific objectives of the project are:
- Implementation of analysis on existing practices, available methodologies and VET institutional needs for ICT integration
- Methodological development and expert community building
- Application of 2 Hextlearn and 1 Revive methodologies and case development
- Peer reviewing implementation and quality assurance awareness building
- Online community development by case presentation and peer reviewing implementation.
Expected project results:
- Case development methodology adapted to VET sector
- Peer review methodology adapted to VET sector
- Quality criteria identified for ICT integration on institutional level, quality schemes references, Curriculum level and professional skill development level
- Training material on application of adapted case development, peer review methodologies and Revive methodology
- 32 institutional cases in the areas and levels selected.
The Digital Children’s Folksongs for Language and Cultural Learning project (Italian)
Folk DC è un progetto finanziato dall’Unione Europea e pensato per incoraggiare i più giovani ad impegnarsi nell’apprendimento delle lingue attraverso canzoni tradizionali, e attività basate sulle canzoni, in 10 lingue europee.
I vostri studenti potranno partecipare a questo stimolante progetto che culminerà con un concerto simultaneo in 5 Paesi, trasmesso su internet alle scuole in tutta Europa.
Introduzione
Digital Children’s Folksongs for Language and Cultural Learning project (Folk DC) è un progetto finanziato dall’Unione Europea pensato per incoraggiare i più giovani ad impegnarsi nell’apprendimento delle lingue attraverso canzoni tradizionali, e attività basate sulle canzoni, in 10 lingue europee.
Il progetto culminerà in un concerto simultaneo, dal vivo, in 5 Paesi, trasmesso al pubblico su internet in tutta Europa. I cori delle scuole canteranno canzoni tradizionali in lingue straniere che saranno trasmesse nelle località degli altri concerti e saranno anche rese disponibili al pubblico su internet.
Il progetto porterà alla comprensione della quantità, ricchezza e cultura di altre lingue i bambini appena possibile, quando iniziano a imparare una lingua straniera e quindi a capire il significato delle altre lingue. Coinvolgerà i bambini in attività affascinanti e stimolanti, che avranno un impatto sul futuro e risponderanno al bisogno di materiale che incentivi i bambini a imparare in maniera divertente.
Risorse prodotte
Per il progetto Folk DC verranno cercate e raccolte canzoni tradizionali in 10 lingue europee e verrà prodotto un set di strumenti pedagogici che gli insegnanti potranno applicare con i loro studenti, contenenti:
- I testi, le traduzioni, la storia, lo spartito musicale, la registrazione
- Attività per stimolare la consapevolezza linguistica e culturale dei bambini
- Esercizi di canto per favorire la comunicazione musicale
- Formazione sulle tecnologie necessarie per la registrazione e gli effetti sonori.
Le risorse verranno realizzate in collaborazione con le scuole, testate e perfezionate; caricate sul sito del progetto e diffuse ampiamente tra le scuole come uno strumento autonomo di formazione degli insegnanti (Autonomous Teacher Training Tool, ATTT).
Le scuole potranno utilizzare l’ATTT e creare registrazioni audio e video dei cori della loro scuola che cantano le canzoni tradizionali selezionate entro il progetto. Le registrazioni potranno essere caricate su internet e condivise come open source.
Le istituzioni partner organizzeranno cinque workshop per gli insegnanti locali e di altri Paesi dell’UE che possano richiedere dei finanziamenti per coprire le spese. Un Servizio di Supporto Tecnico Telefonico sarà attivo per un determinato periodo per offrire supporto tecnico e contenutistico agli insegnanti che utilizzano l’ATTT.
Concerto Europeo
Verrà organizzato un concerto simultaneo in cinque prestigiose località a Londra (UK), Adana (TR), Sastamala (FI), Prahova (RO), Madrid (ES). ll concerto vedrà la partecipazione del coro di una scuola locale e di illustri cantanti tradizionali; inoltre verranno proiettati i concerti in corso nelle altre quattro località.
Le scuole che non potranno essere presenti al concerto potranno seguirlo online tramite software webinar.
Partecipare al progetto
Gli educatori possono contribuire al progetto utilizzando l’ATTT (un set di risorse) o partecipando al concerto.
E-Internationalization for collaborative learning
Objectives of the project (from the project website):
1. Give the system character to the internationalization processes of the universities’ educational programs on the basis of common commitment to quality and using of information technologies
2. Create international open virtual platform «E-Learning Int. Clearing house» on the basis of WEB 2.0 for cross-cultural communications in academic community and develop skills of international on-line project teamwork.
3. Improve the international teachers and students’ interaction in learning process using e-tools of internationalization in pilot courses.
Activities carried out as part of the project (from the project website)
1.1 Creating project structures and ensuring their sustainable functioning.
1.2 Generalization of European experience and educational institutions’ strategies in the field of internationalization.
1.3 Series of International video conferences for students and teachers.
1.4 Elaborating Workplan, reports, recommendations / conducting a series of practical training sessions for enhancing internationalization processes.
1.5 Holding a conference.
2.1 Exploring European experience in developing and functioning of virtual medium for joint international learning and teaching.
2.2 Developing Open virtual platform «E-Learning Int. Clearing house» on the basis of WEB 2.0 technology.
2.3 Creating electronic store of training courses summary on the basis of E-Learning Int. Clearing house.
2.4 Forming virtual social groups for teachers according to their subjects on the basis of E-Learning Int. Clearing house.
2.5 Exploration of international experience in creating and administrating auditory rooms for conducting virtual international lessons.
2.6 Providing academic resources and technical conditions for creating and functioning of auditory rooms to conduct virtual international lessons.
2.7 Conducting workshops on developing skills of international online project teamwork and using E-Learning Int. Clearing house.
3.1 Selection of pilot courses in each university and searching for binomial of teachers.
3.2 Teachers’ probations at European universities.
3.3 Trainings for teachers on using e-tools.
3.4 Adjusting e-components to the tasks of selected pilot courses.
3.5 Carrying out the autumn and spring phases of pilot training.
3.6 Analysis of intermediate results and experience exchange / studying best practices by CIS students in EU on the results of their participation in the pilot phase.
3.7 Generalizing successful experience and publishing collected methodological materials summarizing the work results.
3.8 Carrying out regional seminars and a International Conference.
4.1 Conducting PR campaign / Publishing periodical materials.
4.2 Publication of teaching and methodological materials for teachers and students.
4.3 Holding seminars, round tables, workshops and International Conference.
5.1 Development of sustainability strategy by project structures.
5.2 Financial sustainability / consulting services organization.
6.1 Internal Cross-University Monitoring, Quality Assessment & Control.
6.2 Cross-University Quality Assessment & Control / Holding of the Evaluation Seminars.
7.1 Establishing Project Managers Board.
7.2 Coordination meetings.
Webinar: Collaborative school projects
This webinar will introduce the teachers to some ways of carrying out collaborative projects with other classes and teachers using ICT. The participants will learn some key points they should consider when planning such projects and get to know examples of successful collaborative projects created within the eTwinning initiative, the biggest teacher-school network in Europe.
Anne Gilleran, the pedagogical manager of eTwinning will lead the session and answer participants questions.
The webinar is free of charge and open to everybody interested in the topic. Register here