Technology‐mediated leadership development networks: Expanding educative possibilities

This report describes the evolution of a technology‐mediated leadership development network from its origin as a local e‐mail discussion group to a loosely‐coupled international leadership web. The report includes a description of the components of the network, which include face‐to‐face and online cross‐role discussion groups, annual seminar series, graduate degree programming, an online refereed journal, summer institutes, university partnerships, and cross‐cultural research. In addition, an explanation is offered of the challenges that the network poses for understandings of what counts as professional development, university regulations for planning and delivering instruction, communication of research, and teacher‐student roles. Then the paper offers a profile of the leadership development network in terms of its professional, role, environmental, and emotional dimensions. Finally, a set of questions is offered for readers interested in planning leadership development networks.