Ideal for school leaders, teacher leaders, and superintendents leading district-level change, this book describes how separate professional learning communities can be purposefully linked across schools to create effective Networked Learning Communities (NLCs). Steven Katz, Lorna M. Earl, and Sonia Ben Jaafar demonstrate how NLCs can effectively engage schools in creating and sharing professional knowledge and develop the kind of deep and sustained changes that enhance student learning, engagement, and success.Based on the authorsÆ research and work with districts and schools in North America and England, the book defines NLCs, explains how they work, and leads readers in examining:The importance of having a clear, evidence-based focusCollaborative inquiry as a process that challenges thinking and practice and generates new learning for teachersThe role of formal and informal leaders in both professional learning communities and networked learning communitiesBuilding and Connecting Learning Communities demonstrates how to work together to create the conditions for focused professional learning for teachers and tackles the challenge of how to sustain the work of NLCs.

PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the Authors1. Why Networks? Why Now? It's About Learning Networks: A Powerful Organizational Tool Time for Reflection2. How Networked Learning Communities Work What Are Networked Learning Communities? How NLCs Work: The Theory of Action Using NLCs to Focus Local PLCs The Anatomy of a NLC: A Refined Theory of Action Time for Reflection3. Establishing a Clear and Defensible Focus Focus Foremost Evidence-Based Focus From a School Focus to a Network Focus Time for Reflection4. Collaborative Inquiry to Challenge Thinking and Practice The Importance of Relationships From Inquiry to an Inquiry Habit of Mind From Relationships to Deep Collaboration Getting to Powerful Collaborative Inquiry Time for Reflection5. Leadership in Networked Professional Learning Communities Roles of Formal Leaders Roles of Informal Leaders Time for Reflection6. From Student Learning to Teacher Learning Towards Focused Collaborative Inquiry Collaborative Inquiry for Teacher Leaders Within-School Focused Professional Learning: Collaborative Inquiry for Teachers Time for Reflection7. Using the Network to Support Professional Learning for Leaders Collaborative Inquiry and Focused Learning for Leaders Using Critical Friends to Promote Inquiry and Focus Efforts From Collaborative Inquiry to Instructional Leadership Actions Time for Reflection8. Sustaining Networked Learning Communities Sustaining Collective Understanding Sustaining Professional Learning Sustaining and Broadening Leadership Sustaining Powerful Networked Learning Communities Time for ReflectionReferencesIndex