Network Learning for Educational Change

• How do networks create educational change and improve student achievement?
• What kinds of educational policies and practices facilitate network learning?

Networks bring teachers, principals and other stakeholders together to share ideas, observe best practices, identify and analyze problems, and develop strategies for improved teaching, learning, and community life. These networks are becoming an important method to enhance educational renewal and student achievement. Networks go beyond tensions of top-down vs. bottom-up, school development and formal and informal organizational structures. The theoretical base of networking makes use of many different concepts of educational change theory, such as educational change processes, empowering of teachers, professional development, communities of practice, the network society and democratic education.

The first part of the book features studies of four ‘established’ networks who have been functioning for several years. These networks describe their accomplishments, challenges, goals, and the theoretical basis of their work. In the second part of the book, three recently developed networks share their ‘start-up’ experiences and lessons learned. The book concludes by looking at networking as a strategy for educational change.

Key reading for Education students, educational consultants and teacher educators with an interest in educational leadership and educational change.

Contributors: Lew Allen,Linda Atkinson, Tero Autio, Randy Averso, Jean Cate, Dennis W. K. Chan, Chris Day, Victor Forrester, Gregg Garn, Dennis Gentry, Jesse Goodman, Mark Hadfield, Barbara Harold, Frances Hensley, Elaine Jarchow, Gaetane Jean-Marie, Tracey McAskill, Robin McGrew-Zoubi, Mary John O’Hair, Ulrich C. Reitzug, Eero Ropo, Joan Rué, Wiel Veugelers, Ian Walker, William Y. Wu, Henk Zijlstra.

Wiel Veugelers is professor of education at the University of Amsterdam and the University for Humanistics in the Netherlands. He is the founder and director of the School Network of the University of Amsterdam. He published on networking, educational change, youth culture, critical pedagogy and moral and democratic education.

Mary John O’Hair is Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Oklahoma and director of the K20 Center for Educational and Community Renewal. Dr. O’Hair’s research focuses on developing and sustaining interdisciplinary learning partnerships designed to improve teaching, learning, and leading in kindergarten through graduate (K20) education.