Teacher networks: From a catalyst for enactment of professional development to a source of professional development

ABSTRACT

Thirteen years after the publication of the book Social Network Theory and Educational Change, what can we say about the evolution of research connecting social network theory and analysis with teacher professional development? In this evolution, we can witness a conceptual shift in the literature connecting teacher professional development with social network theory and analysis that is important to highlight and discuss. While before 2010 teacher networks were mostly perceived as a force enacting external initiatives for teacher professional development, this perspective evolved to a perception of teacher networks as a source of professional development in themselves. This paper discusses this conceptual evolution, its consequences for the literature, and implications for future research connecting teacher professional development with social network theory and analysis.

KEYWORDS:

• social network analysis
• social network theory
• teacher professional development
• teacher networks
• Peer interactions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. From a glance at the cover, the informed reader will see that we did not go too far to find an affectionate nickname.

2. With the concept of social capital understood according to Lin’s (2008) point of view and defined as ‘resources embedded in one’s social networks, resources that can be accessed or mobilised through ties in the networks’ (p. 54). See Coppe, Thomas et al., for an extensive discussion of the concept of social capital and its use in teacher-related research.

3. In line with other scholars.

4. 972 citations in Google Scholar at the time the present paper was written. Coburn’s second-most cited paper per year.

5. Except for the methodological contributions.

6. As an example, slides of a workshop using network visualisations can be found here: https://migrant-education.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Feedback-combined-schools-session-2023.01.04-pdf.pdf. Information about the TEAMS project can be found here: https://migrant-education.net/.