Collaborative Networks Changing the Face of the Educational System. Three Case Studies in the Pre-school and Elementary Education

In the times of profound economic and cultural shifts, the concept of the learning organization is still one of the most promising. Its latest applications are within the framework of learning networks. Based on three case studies of collaborative networks in the pre-school and elementary education, the paper provides insight of how actually learning takes place. One of the largest educational centers in Bulgaria, Media and its collaboration with the suggestopedic community has been presented. The second case study describes the network of Waldorf teachers and their collaboration with parents resulting in the setting up of a kindergarten and a school. The homeschooling network and the parent cooperatives are presented in the last case. It is concluded that participation of the teachers in learning collaborative networks increases the chances of innovation in the existing system. The presented collaborations have led to innovations, which make the teaching process learner-centered. Further research is needed to estimate the thickness of the existing innovative collaborative networks in order to predict their influence on the educational system.