Introduction The survey was conducted during the summer of 2016 (June to August). Three hundred fifty-four (354) responses were gathered and analyzed. The survey was conducted in the survey monkey platform (https://www.surveymonkey.net/) and the link was sent to the members who have joined the newsletter of the group (1415 members at that time), as the platform is not allowing sending an email to all the members of the group who were around 3000 at that time. The purpose of the survey is to: • Identify the needs of the group members • Identify members’ profile • See their views about the different activities organized the previous year • Identify the status of the members in the eTwinning platform • Analyze if and how the participation in the group contributes to the professional development of the members • Analyze if and how the participation in the group contributes to the development of the key competences The specific survey is conducted on a yearly basis, at the end of the school year.
Results
90% of the members are women while only 10% are men.
1.Gender of the members
55% of the teachers are over 46 years old and 45% are under 45 years old.
2.Age of the members
According to the results, eTwinning Plus countries are active in the group and many countries are participating with the majority coming from Greece and Italy.
3.Countries where members come from
The majority of the members teaches English as a Foreign Language and are teachers in Primary Schools.
4.Subjects they teach
Almost 50% of the members are registered in eTwinning from 2-5 years, 22% have joined eTwinning the last year and 11% are members for more than 8 years.
5. Years registered in www.etwinning.net
The majority of members (33%) have run 3-6 eTwinning projects, 22% have run 1-2 projects, 21% more than 10 projects and there is 12% that have no run any eTwinning project yet.
6. eTwinning projects members have run
The vast majority of the members took part in an eTwinning project the school year 2015-2016.
7. Members who run an eTwinning project in 2015-16
33% run one eTwinning project, 27% two eTwinning projects, 18% 3 projects and 22% more than 3 eTwinning projects the school year 2015-16.
8. Number of eTwinning projects in 2015-16 per member
The 66% of the members run a European eTwinning project, 5% run a National eTwinning project, while 29% run both a European and a National eTwinning project the school year 2015-2016.
9. Type of eTwinning projects in 2015-16 In the question if they have received a National Quality Label for any of their projects, 46% replied yes while 54% replied no.
10. Number of teachers who have received a National Quality Label
The majority of the members have received 1-2 National Quality Labels for their projects and only 13% have received more than 6.
11. Number of National Quality Labels per member
On the other hand, the 66% of the members have not received any European Quality Label for their projects.
12. Number of teachers who have received a European Quality Label
The 58% of them have received 1-2 European Quality Labels and only 10% have received more than 6 European Quality Labels over the years of participating in the programme.
13. Number of European Quality Labels per member
Regarding the Creative Classroom Group, 27% have become members the last year, 20% are members 1-2 years and there is 2,6% who are members since the beginning of the group.
14. Years of membership in the Creative Classroom Group
The 82% of the members agree that the structure of the Group is clear and easy to get around.
15. Structure of the Creative Classroom Group clear to get around
The 81% of the participants agree that the administrator of the group is always at their disposal when they need help.
16. Availability of the group moderator
The 65% of the participants stated that they have contributed in the activities (expert talks, campaigns, discussions, sharing material) of the Group, which is really positive. Of course, we should take into account that the active members usually take part in such surveys.
17. Participation of the members in Group’s activities
In the question, which activity they liked mostly in the Group, participants chose with the following order: 1. Creative Tools for Creative Teachers: Thematic Padlets with tools proposed by the members 2. Expert talks: monthly synchronous webinars with experts around the world talking about different topics 3. E-books with members’ contributions: e-books with selected material/good practices of the members from the different activities 4. Success Stories Go Live: awarded members with National and European Awards present their projects in a webinar 5. Online Parties: Summer and Christmas online parties with a series of collaborative activities organized by the members 6. Unconferences: An one day online conference where members present their projects/tools/activities 7. Back to Group campaigns: a series of activities/webinars at the beginning of the school year 8. Protagonist Countries: each month participants from one country upload their eTwinning material
18. Activities in the Creative Classroom Group
Among the participants who didn’t take active part in the group activities, 57% started that this was due to lack of time, while 23% said that they joined the Group recently so they didn’t have the opportunity to be involved actively.
19. Reasons for not taking active part in the group
The 86% of the participants found the proposed activities interesting and useful for their work.
20. The proposed activities were useful and interesting
The 67% of the participants stated that Creative Classroom Group has contributed to their Professional Development, 28% stated that it contributed in some cases while 5% said that it didn’t contribute in any way.
21. Creative Classroom Group contributed to the PD of the teachers
The participation in the Creative Classroom Group contributed positive in the development of the key competences: 1. Communication in the mother tongue
2. Communication in foreign languages 3. Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology 4. Digital Competence 5. Learning to learn 6. Social and civic competences 7. Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship 8. Cultural awareness and expression
22. Creative Classroom Group and key competences
Participants decided from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much) how their participation in the group has contributed in the development of their key competences:
1. Communication in the mother tongue
2. Communication in foreign languages
3. Mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology
4. Digital Competence
5. Learning to learn
6. Social and civic competences
7. Sense of initiative and entrepreneurship
8. Cultural awareness and expression
The 90% of the participants are satisfied with the group and they would recommend it to other teachers.
23. Recommend the group to other teachers
Participants were finally asked to propose topics that they would like to work on the next school year like: • Learning to learn • How to find reliable partners • Music and Drama • Citizenship • Receiving migrant students at school • The impact of computing science and robotics in the future of education • Online parties • Volunteering in Education • Empathy-resilience • Project-based learning • Multiple intelligence • Ipads in education • Creative tools for project assessment • Creative hands on activities • Social Competences • Project designing including very young learners • Creating Apps-coding • Activities that work ethics • Activities for eTwinning Plus members • Debates among students • Collaborative tools • Break out EDU • 21st century skills framework
Participants made also some final remarks about the participation in the group: Ø Being part of this group has helped me a lot and I pity not having enough time to participate actively. Thank you. Ø I love Creative Classroom Group, even if I'm not very active. Ø Thank you for useful information and a good chance to learn the world Ø You keep the spirit of eTwinning fun and creative in this group, which I think is great! Ø Congratulations for all this work You let us feel connected with the world of educators Ø It is a great inspiring group Ø Very creative group, always active and you Irene always available and gentle with all of us! Ø Very nice group with innovative ideas Ø Thank you very much for the great learning experience that you offer through the Creative Classroom group!! Ø This is my favourite Group. Ø It is very nice and value to collaborate with creative classroom group Ø Keep up the good work Irene! You inspire me to do things even not in the group.... Ø Congratulations to the administrators of this group, I really like to involve myself better next school year Ø Continue this wonderful work with the creative classroom group. Ø Thank you for all your effort. It was amazing. Ø I love this group!!! Ø Thank you for all your rich, creative and interesting ideas! Ø A very helpful team Ø I like this group and I am proud to be member of it.