Over 400 teachers from across Europe attended the conference and the opening address and prize-giving ceremony, headed by Ján Figel, Member of the European Commission in charge of education, training, culture and youth, further emphasised that eTwinning is truly contributing to the development of a European dimension in education as well as growth in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for pedagogy.

In his opening speech, Commissioner Figel’ discussed the importance of eTwinning as part of the new Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013. With so many schools now taking part, eTwinning can act as a complimentary opportunity for Comenius school partnerships to continue their project work as well as a starting point for schools new to ICT collaborative projects to become involved. Linking eTwinning to both the Lisbon Agenda and Bologna Process, Commission Figel’ explained that eTwinning teachers are paving the road towards school collaboration. Quoting Jean Monnet, "I am neither pessimist nor optimist, I am merely determined", Commissioner Figel further encouraged teachers to continue their hard work.

The top prizes were then presented to winners and runners-up. Winners were awarded with a four-day ICT camp which will take place in Sicily at the end of April for teachers and students to meet their partners face to face, learn more about online collaborative projects and spend time with other students from across Europe. Runners-up were invited to participate in one of the European networking and development workshops taking place until June 2007.

The Winning Projects

Age 4-11: “Gingerbread House”
http://www.zsomsenie.sk/static/eTwinning/

SLOVAKIA: Základná škola Omšenie (Denysa Križanova)

CZECH REPUBLIC: Základní škola a mateřská škola Sivice (Pavel Vrtěl)

Age 12-15: “Eurofilm Factory”
http://twinspace.etwinning.net/launcher.cfm?lang=en%20,&ca=iesciii 

SPAIN: IES Carlos III (Libia Kowarik)

LITHUANIA: Prienai "Ziburys" gymnasium (Irma Sneideriene)

Age 16-19: “Young people's search for personal identity”
http://www.highschoolmonaco.eu/etwinning/ 

POLAND: I LO im T Kosciuszki w Mysłowicach (Ewa Groszek)

ITALY: ITIS "A.Monaco" Cosenza (Paola Lico)

The rest of the conference then focused on plenary discussions, interactive sessions and workshops on the Portal, pedagogy and project ideas.  Speakers included: Stephen Heppell, founder of Ultralab; Oscar Stringer, an animation expert; and members of the eTwinning Pedagogical Advisory Group (PAG): Anne Gilleran, Conor Galvin, Pieter Hogenbirk, Martha Hunya, Michelle Selinger and Bettina Zeidler.

For full information, visit the eTwinning Portal at www.etwinning.net