Policies and research acknowledge teachers’ role in developing innovation in education and training practices. There is particularly a need to harness the transformative potential of ICT for innovative and effective teaching and learning approaches with the potential to equip both teachers and learners with new skills for jobs and lifelong learning. The assumption is that a Learning Network is a suitable support for competence development. Such networks can have a key role in supporting in-service teachers in their changing role, encouraging their professional development and sharing good practices. It is important to understand the dynamic and multidirectional flow of social influence within such networks.
TeLLNet is to study the eTwinning network (currently over 80 000 teachers) through visualization techniques, Social Network Analysis (SNA) and a number of complimentary methods. Identifying the main structures, actors, networks and Communities of practice that are effective in sharing practices, encouraging innovation and creativity at schools, and engaging new members is important to understand the motivations and drivers for people to be part of these networks. This will particularly enable providing better support and services and more needs-focused lifelong in-service professional development.