The challenges facilitators

encounter when supporting

networked learningThe experiences of pioneers in the landscape of educational

learning networks in the Netherlands

Irene HanraetsJoitske Hulsebosch

Maarten de Laat

Pioneers facilitating 15 learning networks

Natasha Evert Paul

Maaike Hans

Loes

Renate Esther

Various levels of education

• Primary

• Prepatory secondary vocational

• Secondary

• Higher education

Pioneers

• promising land

• social aspects ?

Social aspects of networked learning

Haythornthwaite (2008):

Learning is a social network relation:• exchange between people• shared experience between colleagues• transfer of information• feedback, questioning and dialogue

Research focus

• practice of facilitating• facilitor• challenges.

Method

Interviews with the eight facilitators

ComparingClustering

Results: challenges

conclusions

Interview questions

• What learning network?

• Role of the facilitator?

• What activities are successful ?

• Specific for education?

Results

5 Common challenges

3. Important interventions and roles?

4. Self-organisation?5. “Insufficient” competences?6. Balance online and face-to-face

activities?7. Legitimize participation?

Each challenge

Recommendations for facilitator

Conclusions

QuotesResults

Challenge 1:Important roles and activities?

QuotesEvert

“Help people to get started, inspire, create conditions and search for demand.”

Hans “How to invite is important”Maaike

“Crucial is that we behave as subservient to the network: understand the wishes of the group, be a converter and katalyst.”

Challenge 1: Important roles and activities?

Recommendations

• Non-directive attitude

• Divided responsibility

• Be creative

• Broad spectrum of interventions

Challenge 2: Design for self-organisation?

QuotesMaaike

“Explore, think together with teachers, be a sounding board, identify the needs and wishes of the group .Teachers want something together and we as facilitators help to make that explicit.”

Paul “The questions of the participants should be

leading the way.”

Challenge 2: Design for selforganisation?

Recommendations• investigate needs and expectations,

• assess the demands and intrinsic motivation,

• search initiatives,

• be a handyman.

Challenge 3: Cope with “insufficient” competences?

QuotesNatasha

”Networked learning asks for a different, active reflective attitude. The culture of learning from peers is not accepted in education yet. We are not what you call a learning organisation.”

Paul“Its not yet common for them to share knowledge.”

Challenge 3: Deal with “insufficient”

competences?

Recommendations

• Culture is not yet conducive

• Support coaching

Challenge 3: Balance online - f2f activities?

QuotesRenate “We continued half a year with the online forum. It collapsed when the face-to-face sessions stopped.”

Natasha “Now we start with physical meetings, and the option of digital interaction is offered step-by-step.”

Challenge 4: Balance online and f2f?

Recommendations• Face-to-face is important,

• F2F at the start - stimulate online participation- build trust- feeling of connectedness

Challenge 5: How to legitimize participation?

QuotesMaaike

“Teachers experience a constant pressure for exams, inspections, lessons.”

Evert “ Make sure that people who do this from their

own initiative, get recognition and the means to do this.”

Renate“Your superior should see the benefits of networked learning and support you by providing time to participate”.

Challenge 5: How to legitimize participation?

Recommendations• Conditions

• Recognition

• Commitment and Facilities

Questions

2. What are your experiences with networked learning?

4. How do you think your experiences with networked learning could be facilitated?

Thank you for your feedback