Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Research in Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Bridging the Borders through eTwinning: A European Collaboration between Future Teachers from Greece and Sweden
Ioannis Lefkos, Georgia Wilhelmsson
ABSTRACT:
This paper presents a collaborative educational e-Twinning project between university students – future Primary School Teachers – in Greece and Sweden. The project is a case study to explore the multifaceted benefits of international collaboration in higher education. The paper discusses how the project fostered a sense of responsibility among participants, encouraging them to take ownership of their learning journey. This aspect was crucial in successfully completing the project and demonstrated the potential of collaborative learning in enhancing student engagement and autonomy. Additionally, the project’s impact on the students’ language proficiency and digital competencies is presented. As future educators, developing these skills is imperative, and the e-Twinning project provided a practical, real-world context for their enhancement. However, challenges were also faced, mainly the use of a foreign language (English) for communication and the coordination across different time zones and timetables. These challenges brought to light the complexities and realities of international collaboration, offering valuable insights for both students and educators. Finally, the paper presents the overwhelmingly positive feedback received from the students. Most participants acknowledged the project’s value, expressing their intention to integrate eTwinning projects into their professional teaching careers. This outcome indicates not only the success of the current project but also its potential long-term impact on future educational practices. Furthermore, this case study underscores the benefits for university educators and policymakers to foster international collaborations in order to enhance their students’ language skills and digital competencies and thus prepare them for a European and globally interconnected educational landscape.
keywords: EFL, language skills, digital competencies, learning ownership, international collaboration