Over the course of three days, both pupils and teachers from Czech, Slovakian, Lithuanian, Spanish, Polish and Italian classes participated in various workshops to learn how to use new ICT tools and discuss important issues related to education and ICT, European citizenship and internet safety.

To expand on their knowledge of ICT tools, pupils learned how to make digital clay animations, create digital cartoons and produce audio podcasts. Following the theme of “Celebrating Europe Through eTwinning”, pupils learned about the EU institutions, participated in role play and produced skits about internet safety. While pupils worked, teachers participated in their own workshops on intercultural communication, media education and internet safety.

Eugenio Rivière, Head of Unit Comenius-Grundtvig of the European Commission, congratulated the winners as examples of the success of eTwinning. Anne Gilleran from the Central Support Service also welcomed the group and stressed how they represented the best eTwinning schools in Europe, selected from among 100 candidates that made it to the second round of the eTwinning Prizes.

Pupils and teachers also participated in several workshops which included learning about animation with Oscar Stringer, an animation expert from the UK, and Internet Awareness with Sofia Aslanidou from European Schoolnet’s safer internet campaign INSAFE. In another workshop, participants also had an introduction to the complexities of Europe at institutional and national level with Silvia Dell'Acqua from the Italian National Support Service. Another group of students were involved in learning about blogging and podcasting with Christina Crawley and Bart Vanhulle from European Schoolnet, and produced an eTwinning Camp Blog. On Saturday the oldest group were involved in a role play, organised by Sylvia Binger, concerning decision making in the European Parliament, an exercise they found very stimulating.

When not in workshops, pupils and teachers shared their countries’ cultures through song, dance, drama and food. They also had some time to relax and explore the grounds of Città del Mare and take an afternoon excursion into Palermo.

The CSS team consisted of Anne Gilleran, Silvia Spinoso, Sylvia Binger, Sofia Aslanidou, Sophie Vandeputte, Bart Vanhulle and Christina Crawley. They were assisted by Oscar Stringer, an animation expert from the UK; Silvia Dell'Acqua from the Italian National Support Service; Armin Hottmann, an expert on video production for school education in Germany; and two members of the Pedagogical Advisory Group (PAG), Bettina Zeideler and Marta Huyna.

To see and learn more about the Camp, have a look at the eTwinning Camp Blog 2007.
http://blog.eun.org/etwinning_camp_2007/
http://www.etwinning.net