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Researching and understanding educational networks

  • Patrick Carmichael
    ,
  • R. McCormick
    ,
  • A. Fox
    ,
  • Richard Procter
  • University College London
Research Output: Book/Report Book Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

Researching and Understanding Educational Networks extends the discussion of educational networks in a unique and novel way by relating it to teacher learning. Following an investigation of teacher and school networks in the UK, the authors found that theoretical perspectives taken from existing work on such networks were not adequate to provide an understanding of their potential, nor to provide the basis for researching them in ways that reflected the variety of teacher experience. This book presents analyses of the problems with existing theories of teacher learning, which for example draw on ideas of 'communities of practice', and explores what network theories can be brought to the problem of how teachers and schools create and share new knowledge about practice. Innovative networking theories discussed include: * social network analysis * social capital theories * actor-network theory * investigations of electronic networks including computer-meditated conferencing * how people learn at events such as conferences. Researching and Understanding Educational Networks explores a new application of networks theories derived from quite different fields of work, and extends it both by being concerned about networks beyond organisations and specifically about educational networks. Their application to educational networks, and to teacher learning in particular, is a unique contribution of the book. This enables it to be of interest to both researchers and those studying for higher degrees, including students who are professionals working in schools.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Book/Report Book Peer-review

Original language

English

Publication milestones

  • Published - 01/01/2010

Publication status

Published - 01/01/2010

Publisher

Routledge, United States, United Kingdom

ISBN (Print)

9780415494823

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/225991

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