Development of three higher education professional learning networks in response to COVID-19: a case study

The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic brought in-person teaching to an abrupt halt in March 2020 posing the problem of how to continue to deliver undergraduate courses remotely. This paper presents a detailed case study of three international online Higher Education (HE) teaching networks, formed to address the critical need to support laboratory teaching in the UK and Australia. The study employed a sequential mixed methods design using an online survey followed by structured discussions with network leads. The findings show these networks provided a space that was previously missing for knowledge development, building confidence, supporting collaboration, and reduced isolation of members. COVID-19 created a common purpose triggering the formation of these communities, but multiple factors contributed to their continued success: individuals prioritised engagement; both participants and their contributions were welcomed, and they subsequently felt able to lead change. The research found that the three networks fit the framework for Professional Learning Networks (PLN) providing a useful template for Higher Education PLNs operating anywhere in the world.