Educational Innovation with Learning Networks: Tools and Developments

Abstract: Professional Development is ill served by traditional ways of learning. It can profit from a Learning Networks approach, which emphasizes logistic, content and didactic flexibility. Learning Networks are online, social networks that have been de-signed and tooled to foster informal learning. Three European projects are discussed – idSpace, LTfLL, Handover- which have developed tools befitting networked learning. Each in its own way, the projects illustrate the benefits of a networked learning ap-proach. This goes for all three flexibilities but in particular for the need to be didactical-ly flexible. Finally, it is argued that formal education could profit from the tools dis-cussed