Educational Networks

Educational networks serve to develop, inform, deliver, serve, and improve education across many contexts. These network structures create pathways for the flow of necessary educational information, resources, and innovation. Much of the work in education occurs in the interactions of both individual and organizational actors. Educators, parents, researchers, and government or community leaders recognize the need to work together to address educational issues and improve education systems at every level. As these actors build relationships to accomplish their aims, educational network structures emerge. Network members clarify their shared purpose, and network membership grows; therefore, greater organizational formality and structure often become necessary for coordination. While these organizations can take a traditional form, in which the work is done within the formal structure, the purpose of these organizational structures is to bring together and link individuals and organizations for more effective collaboration toward common educational causes.

Educational networks exist for different purposes and focus on the development of all levels of education. They function inside and outside formal educational systems and are often facilitated by government, private, and nonprofit organizations. Educational networks are being increasingly facilitated by computer technologies, which facilitates the identification of new ties and educational causes while supporting education-related relationships that may otherwise be geographically prohibitive. With enhanced communication and sharing of resources and information, educational networks are proliferating worldwide, connecting people and ideas. The rise in e-learning and distance education has generated new organizations seeking to develop ties between students, educators, schools, and educational opportunities across international borders. For example, the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN), a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 by [Page 232]the Copen Family Foundation, consists of over 30,000 schools in more than 125 countries. iEARN supports teachers and young people as they work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning. Internet technologies have also enabled educational networks that share specific educational content resources online, such as the National History Education Network based at Carnegie Mellon University. Educational networks exist and operate at the international, national, regional, and school levels.