Mapping Our Networks

An item from a K-12 blended learning organization.

A spotlight on social network analysis with community educators

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Join the conversation as we partner with communities to design and implement culturally responsive school change.

In This Week’s Issue

• Mapping Our Networks: Spotlight on the start of our Social Network Analysis with students & Community Educators
• Aurora Institute Symposium 2023: Request for Proposals & Registration open!

Mapping Our Networks

One aim of Highlander Institute’s liberatory approach to data is to expand the set of metrics we use to define and measure success in education. Through our community educator work, we’re beginning to map student and adult networks to understand and grow their social capital. By better understanding the relationships between our community educators and students, we can learn how existing systems can best support our students in their academic journeys and potential career paths while also developing connections to future mentoring program sites.

This school year, in the learning pod initiative in Central Falls, our Impact Office has launched a social network analysis of our pod mentees’ networks. Students are reflecting on and documenting key connections in their support networks — at home, at school, and in their communities.

The network mapping centers on multiple support domains: academic; career and life goals; and trust and belonging. Through this exercise, we’ve discovered that pod leaders demonstrate particularly high scores on trust and belonging, a domain linked with the most level of influence in spreading information, empowering others, and developing strong relationships across the community.

The ultimate goals of this social network analysis are to understand the network we currently have, determine areas we can further grow and develop, and leverage key influencers to strengthen the network. We’re asking: Who has the most power? Who needs more resources? and What skills and gap areas can we enhance as a collective? We are monitoring progress as these networks grow for both students and community educators over the course of their learning pod experiences. Stay tuned for more updates!

From Other Organizations

Aurora Institute Symposium Updates

Join the field’s largest gathering of education innovators working to transform K-12 education at the Aurora Institute Symposium on October 15-17, 2023 in Palm Springs, California. Stay for the community, lessons about education innovation from the field, and the latest research and policy to support education transformation. Leave equipped to take immediate action in advancing next generation learning designs.

PRESENT: If you have expertise to share around advancing personalization, competency-based education, or student agency with the field, submit a proposal to present by April 20.

REGISTER: As an attendee, you’ll have access to inspirational keynote presentations and breakout sessions showcasing the field’s brightest ideas – providing an inside look at cutting edge approaches, strategies, and guidance. Registration is now open!

Submit a Proposal

Register