The right network for the right problem. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gomez, Louis M.; Russell, Jennifer L.; Bryk, Anthony S.; LeMahieu, Paul G.; Mejia, Eva M.
• Is Part Of: Phi Delta Kappan. Volume 98:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 8
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Education -- United States -- Periodicals; Greek letter societies -- Periodicals; Onderwijs; Éducation -- Périodiques; Associations désignées par des lettres grecques -- Périodiques; Éducation; Enseignement; Pédagogie; Politique éducative; Recherche en éducation; Réforme du système éducatif; Services aux élèves; Système éducatif; États-Unis; Étude comparée (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 371.0097305
• DOI: 10.1177/0031721716677256
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-7217

Abstract

Educators are realizing that individuals working in isolation can't adequately address the teaching and learning problems that face us today. Collective action networks are needed. Sharing networks use collective energy to support individual action and agency, whereas execution networks typically address complex problems that require sustained collective action to resolve. One kind of execution network -- networked improvement communities (NIC) -- can be of great value to educators as they tackle complex problems of practice. The story of the formation of the Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership (MTEP) illustrates how catalyzing a NIC is different from forming a sharing community and why a formal infrastructure is required for sustained collective action .