Practices

Pasi Siltakorpi, teacher from Finland, and eTwinning
eTwinning
Institutions involved:
Pääskytie school, Porvoo (Finland)
Key words: Improving learning
Description:
Thematic Field: Teaching professions
The ten eTwinning projects coordinated by one teacher from Finland have increased
the motivation of pupils with learning difficulties and attracted other teachers from
the region to start European cooperation. The projects were implemented via the
eTwinning platform and themselves did not receive any funding from the Commission.
They covered a wide range of themes including: upgrading ICT, video and digital
imaging skills, intercultural communication skills, using ICT to support the learning
process of children with special educational needs, support for transition to working
life and looking at career opportunities in the EU, and introducing eTwinning to
other teachers from the town and the region. The project activities have attracted
the attention of the national media which brought better visibility and recognition of
European projects to a wide public.
Pasi Siltakorpi says "For my pupils it has been very uplifting to find out that they can
communicate with their foreign friends although they have learning difficulties. This
and all the good publicity we have had in newspapers and even on national television
has strengthened their self-esteem; not forgetting national awards that we have won
twice. I feel that our example has also encouraged other teachers to do projects.
At least the number of projects in my hometown has increased during the last years.
Doing international projects has its effects on everyday school work as well. I have
always believed that learning should be fun and motivating. eTwinning is one way to
make it happen."
Duration:
diverse projects
Webpage:
http://www.edu.fi/etwinning/opastusta/kuukauden_opettaja/pasi_siltakorpi_kumpulan
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