View in EDS

Connectedness and Diversity, Drivers for Collective Learning in PLCs

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Connectedness and Diversity, Drivers for Collective Learning in PLCs
Language: English
Authors: Femke Nijland (ORCID 0000-0001-8736-0444), Marjan Stappers (ORCID 0009-0006-1916-1594), Dorieke Swinkels (ORCID 0009-0005-0974-1475), Marjan Vermeulen (ORCID 0000-0001-8084-7217)
Source: Asian Journal of Education and Training. 2026 12(1):1-13.
Availability: Asian Online Journal Publishing Group. 244 Fifth Avenue Suite D42, New York, NY 10001. Fax: 212-591-6094; e-mail: info@asianonlinejournals.com; Web site: http://www.asianonlinejournals.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Cooperative Learning, Communities of Practice, Diversity, Interpersonal Relationship, Goal Orientation, Teacher Collaboration
ISSN: 2519-5387
Abstract: This study examines how diversity and connectedness interact to foster collective learning within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Two PLCs, consisting of members from different educational organizations, were followed over three years, with annual interviews analyzed through the lens of value creation and collective learning, to answer the question: "Through what mechanisms does the interplay between connectedness and diversity contribute to collective learning in PLCs composed of members from two educational organizations?" The findings indicate two mechanisms: 1) Immediate value acts as a reciprocal motivator, strengthening connectedness and stimulating collective learning processes. 2) Collective ambition functions as a coordinating mechanism, aligning goals and facilitating learning within heterogeneous, formalized groups. Both value creation and collective ambition act as mutually reinforcing drivers of collective learning: as members experience value, their motivation and connectedness deepen, which in turn fosters further value creation. Likewise, collective attention amplifies these dynamics by continuously aligning members' engagement and learning efforts, creating a recursive system that sustains collective growth. These findings highlight the practical importance of deliberately balancing diversity and connectedness, and they demonstrate how shared ambition and experienced value, such as joy, can enhance collaboration and learning in PLCs, while a lack of both diminishes it.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1510976
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1510976
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1510976
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Connectedness and Diversity, Drivers for Collective Learning in PLCs
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Femke+Nijland%22">Femke Nijland</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8736-0444">0000-0001-8736-0444</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marjan+Stappers%22">Marjan Stappers</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1916-1594">0009-0006-1916-1594</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dorieke+Swinkels%22">Dorieke Swinkels</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0974-1475">0009-0005-0974-1475</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Marjan+Vermeulen%22">Marjan Vermeulen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8084-7217">0000-0001-8084-7217</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Asian+Journal+of+Education+and+Training%22"><i>Asian Journal of Education and Training</i></searchLink>. 2026 12(1):1-13.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Asian Online Journal Publishing Group. 244 Fifth Avenue Suite D42, New York, NY 10001. Fax: 212-591-6094; e-mail: info@asianonlinejournals.com; Web site: http://www.asianonlinejournals.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 13
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cooperative+Learning%22">Cooperative Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communities+of+Practice%22">Communities of Practice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity%22">Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Relationship%22">Interpersonal Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goal+Orientation%22">Goal Orientation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Collaboration%22">Teacher Collaboration</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2519-5387
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study examines how diversity and connectedness interact to foster collective learning within Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Two PLCs, consisting of members from different educational organizations, were followed over three years, with annual interviews analyzed through the lens of value creation and collective learning, to answer the question: "Through what mechanisms does the interplay between connectedness and diversity contribute to collective learning in PLCs composed of members from two educational organizations?" The findings indicate two mechanisms: 1) Immediate value acts as a reciprocal motivator, strengthening connectedness and stimulating collective learning processes. 2) Collective ambition functions as a coordinating mechanism, aligning goals and facilitating learning within heterogeneous, formalized groups. Both value creation and collective ambition act as mutually reinforcing drivers of collective learning: as members experience value, their motivation and connectedness deepen, which in turn fosters further value creation. Likewise, collective attention amplifies these dynamics by continuously aligning members' engagement and learning efforts, creating a recursive system that sustains collective growth. These findings highlight the practical importance of deliberately balancing diversity and connectedness, and they demonstrate how shared ambition and experienced value, such as joy, can enhance collaboration and learning in PLCs, while a lack of both diminishes it.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1510976
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1510976
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Cooperative Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communities of Practice
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diversity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Goal Orientation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Collaboration
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Connectedness and Diversity, Drivers for Collective Learning in PLCs
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Femke Nijland
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Marjan Stappers
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dorieke Swinkels
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Marjan Vermeulen
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2519-5387
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 12
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Asian Journal of Education and Training
              Type: main
ResultId 1