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Journal of Educational Change

, Volume 11, Issue 1, pp 1–21 | Cite as

Thinking more deeply about networks in education

  • Jorge Ávila de Lima
Article
First Online:

Abstract

In education, initiatives to restructure and reculture schools through their involvement in intra- and inter-institutional networks have grown in number in recent years. Networks of teachers and schools (often linked to institutions outside education) are becoming a key focus of change efforts promoted by professionals and policymakers. However, in current research, writing and policymaking, the use of the network concept has been generally vague, normative and mostly instrumental. This paper develops a discussion of network concepts and proposes more systematic, less normative ways of addressing and researching network issues in education. It outlines a set of key dimensions of intra- and inter-organizational networks and makes a case for more a comprehensive research approach to these phenomena.

Keywords

Networks Educational change Teacher collaboration 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of EducationUniversity of the AzoresPonta DelgadaPortugal

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