Networked learning happens when people learn through connections with others facing similar challenges. Think about how market traders learn their business – not through formal classes, but by connecting with other traders, sharing tips, and learning from each other’s experiences. This natural way of learning through relationships is what networked learning tries to support.
5 key features of networked learning:
- Learning from peers: In networked learning, people learn as much or more from others doing similar work as they do from experts. A community health worker in one village might discover an effective way to increase vaccination rates that could help workers in other villages.
- Knowledge flows in all directions: Unlike traditional training where knowledge flows only from the top down, networked learning allows knowledge to move in all directions – from national programs to local clinics, between regions, and from local implementers up to policy makers.
- Connections create value: The relationships between people become valuable resources for solving problems. Having a network of colleagues to ask for advice or share experiences with helps everyone work more effectively.
- Crossing boundaries: Networked learning connects people who might not normally work together – like doctors, nurses, community health workers, and managers. These diverse connections bring together different perspectives and create new solutions.
- Building on existing relationships: People already learn from colleagues they trust. Networked learning strengthens these natural connections and creates new ones, expanding who people can learn from.
Why networked learning matters for health work:
Health systems are full of isolated practitioners who could benefit from each other’s knowledge:
- A nurse who developed an effective patient education approach
- A community health worker who found a way to reach remote households
- A clinic manager who improved medicine supply systems
- A doctor who adapted treatment guidelines for local conditions
Networked learning connects these isolated pockets of knowledge, allowing good ideas to spread and adapt across different contexts.
Unlike traditional training that pulls people away from their work for workshops, networked learning happens through ongoing connections that support everyday problem-solving. When health workers participate in networked learning, they gain access to a community of practice that continues to provide support long after formal training ends.
Networked learning doesn’t replace expertise, but it recognizes that valuable knowledge exists throughout the health system – not just at the top. By connecting this distributed knowledge, networked learning helps good practices spread more quickly and adapt more effectively to local needs.