scholarly journals Social Network Analysis of Faculty Connections in a Multi-year Professional Development Program

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Middleton ◽  
Eugene Judson ◽  
Stephen Krause ◽  
Robert Culbertson ◽  
Keith Hjelmstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Professional Development Program

Tracing States’ Messages About Common Core Instruction: An Analysis of English/ Language Arts and Close Reading Resources

2020 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-42
Author(s):  
Emily M. Hodge ◽  
Susanna L. Benko ◽  
Serena J. Salloum
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Language Arts ◽  
English Language Arts ◽  
English Language ◽  
Close Reading ◽  
National Council ◽  
Qualitative Coding

Background A common set of standards enables the sharing of curricular and professional development resources across state lines. In a previous study of state-provided standards resources for English/language arts, we identified the number of state educational agencies linking to different organizations’ resources. We then identified the 10 most influential organizations; in other words, the organizations to which the highest number of states had linked as resource sponsors. However, little is known about the content of the resources from the most influential organizations. Purpose The first goal of this study was to describe the state-provided resources sponsored by the 10 most influential organizations, including the standards and topics addressed. The second goal was to identify the instructional messages about close reading present in those resources, as well as how consistent those messages were across resources and across organizations. Research Design This study used qualitative coding and descriptive analyses to identify standards and topics included in 177 individual resources in the form of articles, curriculum guidelines, instructional aids, professional development, and student work. We utilized social network analysis to visualize the connections between topics the resources addressed and their organizational sponsors. Then, we used qualitative coding and social network analysis to identify and visualize messages about close reading from a smaller set of resources. Conclusions This study finds that resources emphasized standards focused on reading closely and academic vocabulary. Resources focused most heavily on the topics of reading informational text, complex text and academic language, and reading literature; topics that were less represented included special student populations, curricular design, and narrative writing. This study also finds that the resources’ positions on how teachers should enact close reading diverged around the extent to which historical or background knowledge ought to be allowed to inform students’ reading. This work adds to a small but growing body of research applying social network analysis to visualize the relationships between organizations and ideas. We recommend that teachers, as well as state and district leaders, who are searching for helpful resources turn to literacy organizations like the National Council of Teachers of English and the International Literacy Association as organizations that are concerned with the profession as a whole rather than with one particular standards policy and may therefore present a broader and more integrated view of ELA instruction.

Why network structure and coordination matter: A social network analysis of sport for disadvantaged people

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 572-593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lies Dobbels ◽  
Joris Voets ◽  
Mathieu Marlier ◽  
Els De Waegeneer ◽  
Annick Willem
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Social Network Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Disadvantaged People

Although local governments attempt to promote sports among all layers of society, people with a lower socio-economic status are still under-represented in grassroots sports. Previous studies indicate that inter-sectoral networks and joint efforts can contribute to an increase in sport participation among these groups, but a systematic analysis of the structure, coordination and interactions in the networks is still missing. Insight into networks to promote sport for disadvantaged people may help in designing effective networks. Therefore, we conducted a social network analysis to explore the network structure and characteristics of networks that promote sport participation among disadvantaged people in three Flemish cities. Our results show that the networks needed to be coordinated by a sport administrator, in the initial stage. Once the network is up and running, coordination can be shared so that the sport administration can rely on the experiences of other sectors. More sport initiatives and a better network structure were found in the cities with a community sport development program, through which the sport-for-all policy is implemented and coordinated, compared to a city without such a program.

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