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Web pals across Europe

In the Exchange Insta-Poll, "The Tsunami -- How Can We Help?," readers identified "Linking up with an early childhood program impacted by the disaster and providing morale and material support" as the top choice. In light of this, a recent article in Independent: Online Edition (January 20, 2005; http://education.independent.co.uk/schools/story.jsp?story=602500), "Web Pals across Europe," provides some food for thought. The article reported on a recent European Commission announcement of an ambitious scheme to link schools of its member nations by e-mail:

"Once upon a time, schools may have thought they were doing their bit for international understanding by laying on some language lessons and an annual trip to France. But today, they are being encouraged to link with schools across the globe as part of a drive to teach children more about foreign cultures and languages.

How to get schools to learn from each other has been a question that has bedevilled the education service for decades. No one could criticise a drive to share good ideas between schools; like motherhood and apple pie, it's hard to be against it. But it can be difficult for hard-pressed teachers to find the time and motivation to look beyond their own school gates, let alone to a school thousands of miles away.

"But, last week, 300 teachers from 28 countries met in Brussels as part of a scheme from the European Commission to get schools to embrace their European status and twin with establishments from other European nations. A ¥7m (£5m) scheme, called eTwinning, was launched to get at least 150,000 schools involved.

"In an idea that resembles internet dating, institutions register their details on a central website and can search a database of prospective partners to see if there is a suitable match - either by age of pupils, subject or type of project. Eurocrats are hoping that the partnerships will boost children's language skills, cultural understanding and motivation. Successful partnerships will be those that get teachers to collaborate on joint teaching projects and to share ideas from their own schools."

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