Collaboration and Networking in Education

Description

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. Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction: Networking in Schools....Pages 1-6 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Networking and Collaboration as a Public Policy Framework....Pages 9-17 Localised Theories of Networking and Collaboration....Pages 19-27 Societal Theories of Networking and Collaboration....Pages 29-36 Towards a Typology of Educational Networks....Pages 37-48 Front Matter....Pages 49-49 Federations of Schools: Case Studies of Practice....Pages 51-65 The Impact of Federations on Student Achievement....Pages 67-83 Achieving Excellence and Equity: Reflections on the Development of Practices in One Local District Over 10 Years....Pages 85-101 Widening Opportunities? A Case Study of School-to-School Collaboration in a Rural District....Pages 103-114 Leadership in Full-Service Extended Schools: Communicating Across Cultures....Pages 115-128 Front Matter....Pages 129-129 Reflections on Networking and Collaboration....Pages 131-142 Successful Networking: In-School Conditions....Pages 143-150 Successful Networking: External Conditions....Pages 151-158 Leading Networks....Pages 159-165 Some Final Thoughts....Pages 167-168 Back Matter....Pages 169-183