Working group 1 discussions focused on the eTwinning portal and its development. Working Group 3 featured discussion on national and EU communication strategies to promote the eTwinning action. The two meetings brought together.

The meetings took place at the Ministry of the “Communauté francophone de Belgique”. All National Support Services were represented at the two Working Group meetings.

On Thursday 16 March during the first part of the meeting, the central and national portals were presented. Each NSS presented their national eTwinning portal and accounted for future plans related to spreading information, using tools and sharing practice. Then, the CSS presented the European portal with particular focus on its usage. With more than 3,000 visitors a day, a figure still growing, the portal confirms to be the most successful means to get engaged in eTwinning.

During the second part of the meeting, representatives discussed in small groups how to improve the synergy between the national and central portals, in particular how to share gallery examples and other content relevant to teachers across Europe. Discussions also took place on the eTwinning tools and how these can be used and improved in the near future. Statistics on visits and use of the portals and their various features were also presented and discussed.

On 17 March, Eugenio Rivière, eTwinning project officer at the European Commission, presented the general communication strategy, with a particular focus on multipliers and end users, including European pupils of course.

Then representatives from Greece, France, Germany and Italy presented their national communication plans and achievements. The Swedish representative presented the results of a very interesting survey implemented at national level. The afternoon was dedicated to group work and brainstorming on implementing a set of activities in all countries at the beginning of the next school year.

www.etwinning.net