A platform for the influencers: spreading educational innovations via a professional learning network

To further the spread of educational innovation and the sharing of good teaching practices our faculty decided to set up a professional learning network (PLN). With the PLN the aim is to reach an early majority of lecturers by asking influential lecturers to share their practical experiences. Via the PLN meetings for lecturers are organized, web-based resources are made available and educational support is provided. In meetings lecturers present good practices for their colleagues. The topics of the meetings connect to faculty policy (such as: technology enhanced learning, inclusion of international students). Analysis of visitors to the meetings shows the target audience has been reached. Visitors are mainly lecturers, associate professors and professors, spread evenly across all departments of the faculty. On the topic of Technology Enhanced Learning, 71% of the visitors to the PLN are outside a group of early adopters. Overall, meeting visitors are found to be innovators, early adoptors and early majority. In conclusion we found that a PLN can be used as a platform for influencers to reach an early majority of lecturers.