Collaboration and Networking in Education

Muijs, Daniel. (Author). Ainscow, Mel. (Added Author). Chapman, Chris. (Added Author). West, Mel. (Added Author). SpringerLink (Online service) (Added Author).

Summary: Collaboration and networking have recently come to the fore as major school improvement strategies in a number of countries. A variety of initiatives, from government and other agencies, have encouraged collaboration and led to a lot of practical activity in this area. However, at present there are no texts in education that explore collaboration and networking from both a theoretical and practical perspective. In this book, we aim to provide a theoretical background to educational collaboration, drawing on research and theory in policy studies, psychology and sociology, leading ultimately to a typology of networks. This theoretical base will be tested in the discussion of a number of case studies referring to specific initiatives such as the Federations programme, multi-agency collaboration and Networked Learning Communities. Lessons for practice will be drawn and presented in terms of factors internal and external to the school. The key issue of network leadership will be addressed here as well.

Record details

ISBN: 9789400702837
Physical Description: electronic
electronic resource
access
remote
1 electronic text (183 p.) : digital file.
Publisher: Dordrecht : Springer Science+Business Media B.V., 2011.

Content descriptions

Formatted Contents Note:

Introduction: Networking in Schools -- The impact of networking and collaboration in education -- Networking and Collaboration as a Public Policy Framework -- Localised Theories of Networking and Collaboration -- Constructivist organisational theory as a basis for networking -- Creating social capital as a basis for networking -- Social network theory as a basis for networking -- Societal Theories of Networking and Collaboration -- Creating networks as new social movements -- Avoiding organisational anomie as a basis for collaboration -- Functionalist theories of networking -- Towards a Typology of Educational Networks -- What networks? Further classifications on key dimensions -- Federations of Schools: Case Studies of Practice -- The Impact of Federations on Student Achievement -- Researching the relationship between federations and student outcomes: aims and objectives -- Researching the relationship between federations and student outcomes; defining a research approach -- Federations and impact on performance -- Impact on performance by federation type -- Achieving Excellence and Equity: Reflections on the Development of Practices in One Local District Over 10 Years -- Raising standards -- Fostering inclusion -- Networking across the authority -- Widening Opportunities? A Case Study of School-to-School Collaboration in a Rural District -- Set-up and structures -- Building relationships -- Impact -- Leadership in Full-Service Extended Schools: Communicating Across Cultures -- Views on Multiagency work -- Barriers and facilitators -- What does success look like? -- Leadership -- Reflections on Networking and Collaboration -- Challenges and possibilities -- Impact of collaboration -- Direct impact activities -- Strengthening capacity -- Responding to crises -- Sustaining improvements -- Sharing in leadership -- Roles and responsibilites -- Raising Expectations -- Managing change -- Successful Networking: In-School Conditions -- Clear goals and mission -- Finding the right partner schools -- Establishing clear communication channels -- Creating trust -- Capacity for improvement -- Continuing professional development -- Time constraints -- Ending collaboration -- Successful Networking: external Conditions -- External factors that enhance trust -- The role of network brokers -- Accountability -- Partner motivations -- The role of the local authority -- Leading Networks -- The role of the head teacher -- Other leadership roles in a network -- Characteristics of successful leadership in networks -- Distribution and devolution of leadership in networks -- Some Final Thoughts -- References -- Author Index -- Subject Index.

System Details Note:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.