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The Role of the Researcher-Facilitator in Professional Learning Networks

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Title: The Role of the Researcher-Facilitator in Professional Learning Networks
Language: English
Authors: Leyton Schnellert (ORCID 0000-0002-0929-0556), Kimberley A. Sinclair, Deborah L. Butler (ORCID 0000-0002-9130-6835)
Source: Journal of Professional Capital and Community. 2026 11(1):44-57.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
High Schools
Descriptors: Networks, Facilitators (Individuals), Role, Cooperation, Participative Decision Making, Goal Orientation, Reflection, Faculty Development, Researchers, Teacher Leadership, Elementary School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers
DOI: 10.1108/JPCC-10-2024-0177
ISSN: 2056-9548
2056-9556
Abstract: Purpose: In the research reported here we looked at data from three professional learning network (PLN) studies to answer the research question: What do researcher-facilitators do in PLNs and how do their roles vary across PLNs? Design/methodology/approach: In this research we used a multiple case study design focused on three individual PLNs, each one constituting an embedded case. To better understand the role of the PLN facilitator, we analyzed interview and artifact data to generate findings about how PLN facilitation was structured to support learning. Findings: Drawing from our analyses we identified four themes. Researcher-facilitators nurtured collaboration and distributed leadership; selected and offered theory, research and related resources; supported cycles of goal setting, action and reflection; and designed and implemented structures that built from teacher and student data. These three case studies show how PLN researcher-facilitators provided opportunities for teachers to step back from their practice and make evidence- and theory-supported meaning of their experiences. This study also advances understanding about how facilitators can position resources to support knowledge construction within PLNs. The third case study specifically illustrated how researcher-facilitators supported PLN members' data-informed reflective inquiry. These case studies show the promise of providing educators with opportunities to enact agency, leadership and, at the same time, access supports. Originality/value: The cross-case analysis of case studies offers much-needed empirical research regarding the role researcher-facilitators play within PLNs. Specifically, our study recasts the role of researchers, moving them away from unidirectional knowledge generators to instead facilitating opportunities for educators to bridge research/theory, evidence about student learning and practice.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505426
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: The Role of the Researcher-Facilitator in Professional Learning Networks
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leyton+Schnellert%22">Leyton Schnellert</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0929-0556">0000-0002-0929-0556</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kimberley+A%2E+Sinclair%22">Kimberley A. Sinclair</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deborah+L%2E+Butler%22">Deborah L. Butler</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9130-6835">0000-0002-9130-6835</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Professional+Capital+and+Community%22"><i>Journal of Professional Capital and Community</i></searchLink>. 2026 11(1):44-57.
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  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 14
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Networks%22">Networks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Facilitators+%28Individuals%29%22">Facilitators (Individuals)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Role%22">Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cooperation%22">Cooperation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participative+Decision+Making%22">Participative Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goal+Orientation%22">Goal Orientation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reflection%22">Reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Faculty+Development%22">Faculty Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Researchers%22">Researchers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Leadership%22">Teacher Leadership</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Teachers%22">Elementary School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Teachers%22">Middle School Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Teachers%22">High School Teachers</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/JPCC-10-2024-0177
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
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  Data: 2056-9548<br />2056-9556
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: In the research reported here we looked at data from three professional learning network (PLN) studies to answer the research question: What do researcher-facilitators do in PLNs and how do their roles vary across PLNs? Design/methodology/approach: In this research we used a multiple case study design focused on three individual PLNs, each one constituting an embedded case. To better understand the role of the PLN facilitator, we analyzed interview and artifact data to generate findings about how PLN facilitation was structured to support learning. Findings: Drawing from our analyses we identified four themes. Researcher-facilitators nurtured collaboration and distributed leadership; selected and offered theory, research and related resources; supported cycles of goal setting, action and reflection; and designed and implemented structures that built from teacher and student data. These three case studies show how PLN researcher-facilitators provided opportunities for teachers to step back from their practice and make evidence- and theory-supported meaning of their experiences. This study also advances understanding about how facilitators can position resources to support knowledge construction within PLNs. The third case study specifically illustrated how researcher-facilitators supported PLN members' data-informed reflective inquiry. These case studies show the promise of providing educators with opportunities to enact agency, leadership and, at the same time, access supports. Originality/value: The cross-case analysis of case studies offers much-needed empirical research regarding the role researcher-facilitators play within PLNs. Specifically, our study recasts the role of researchers, moving them away from unidirectional knowledge generators to instead facilitating opportunities for educators to bridge research/theory, evidence about student learning and practice.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1505426
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1505426
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        Value: 10.1108/JPCC-10-2024-0177
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Networks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Facilitators (Individuals)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Role
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      – SubjectFull: Cooperation
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      – SubjectFull: Participative Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: Goal Orientation
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      – SubjectFull: Reflection
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      – SubjectFull: Faculty Development
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      – SubjectFull: Researchers
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Leadership
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Teachers
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      – SubjectFull: Middle School Teachers
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      – SubjectFull: High School Teachers
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      – TitleFull: The Role of the Researcher-Facilitator in Professional Learning Networks
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