ABSTRACT

The Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN) was established in 2000 to facilitate and foster a more co-ordinated and systematic approach to enhancing and advancing teaching and learning. This chapter describes, and illustrates through case studies, an evolving conception of brokerage that embraces information gathering, the development of new knowledge and the facilitation of their use to improve practice in teaching and students' learning. Brokerage actions may require establishing new networks that bring a range of practitioner interests together around a common theme like for example the curriculum, assessment or problem-based learning. LTSN brokerage can be viewed as reinforcing the idea of communities of practice, facilitating communication within and across existing communities, and creating new communities where it is necessary. It was apparent that enhancement-led approach resulted in significant duplication of effort between development activities and programmes directed to enhancing teaching and learning, and much re-invention of similar wheels within different communities.