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New Members Information

Welcome Letter
How Can I Get Up to Speed on Network Activities?
Membership Guidelines
Membership Ground Rules
Getting Started: The CLN Quickplace

Welcome Letter

Dear Member:

Welcome to the Collaborative Learning Network!

As a group, the CLN works to build cross-organizational networks with the goal of increasing collaborative capability. Using the framework of tools, processes, and knowledge, CLN activities are focused on those with a compelling need to collaborate better, with the intent that new learning generated from this effort will be disseminated at all levels of the member organizations. Members share the view that information must be facilitated, processed, experimented with, and disseminated to become useful knowledge. While we will draw on experts in this effort, we will rely primarily on peer learning and teaching methods to build capability.

Please review the following material. Be sure to review the guidelines and ground rules. Then proceed to the CLN Quickplace, following the login instructions.

Thank you for your support and participation in this exciting venture.

Best Regards,

Dori Digenti Facilitator of the Collaborative Learning Network

How Can I Get Up to Speed on the Network?

  1. Read the materials in the CLN QuickPlace Resource Room, including:
    • The Collaborative Learning Guidebook
    • Notes on the CLN 1999 Summit, CLN Spring Camp 2000, and CLN 2000 Summit
    • Articles on collaborative learning by Dori Digenti
    • Executive summary on the CLN

  2. Use the QuickPlace Profiles to contact members with like interests and drop them a line!

Ground Rules for Communication and Learning for Members of The Collaborative Learning Network

  1. Continually check your assumptions

  2. Develop an attitude of inquiry: what are your and your counterpart's interests in this matter?

  3. Seek to understand before being understood

  4. Be curious

  5. Try to explain the data or actions on which you have based your conclusions

  6. Inform the facilitator and membership of any changes in your organization which may impact the Network (change in position, mergers, acquisitions, change in company policies, new strategies)

  7. Let the facilitator and membership know if you will be on leave, or are temporarily too busy to actively participate

  8. Acknowledge multiple right answers to any question (both/and, not either/or)

  9. Bring your wisdom and confusion back to the Network to enhance learning

  10. Connect, inform, exchange, enact -- both with the Network and with your internal group

  11. Use creativity and serendipity to gain support for and disseminate the knowledge gained from the Network in your organization

  12. Practice boundary spanning skills to build collaborative capability in the Network and in your organization

The Collaborative Learning Network Membership Guidelines

  • Your annual membership fee allows members of your organization access to the CLN QuickPlace. Each organization commits a Principal contact person. Regular participation in the Third Thursday virtual meetings and contributions to the CLN Quickplace are part of membership.


  • Your membership includes your commitment to form an internal learning group of at least three persons. This group should meet at least quarterly, either virtually or face-to-face, to consider the implications of CLN activities for your organization. Each member organization will submit an internal collaboration project to be shared in the Third Thursday sessions.


  • Members will receive discounts and special access to experts, workshops, and other materials that support the work of the CLN.


  • Members' and the facilitator's contributions to the Network Website and to meetings are to be used only by Network members. Members must have the author's prior permission for any other usage or distribution of materials from the Website.


  • Privacy is a key concern in the Internet Age. The facilitator and the Collaborative Learning Network will keep all member profile information confidential. The profiles are for the use of Network members only.

Getting Started: The CLN QuickPlace

The CLN QuickPlace is the web collaborative space in which the Network creates, shares, and exchanges knowledge. Here is the process for entering the QuickPlace:

  1. Check to be sure you have your username and password for the QuickPlace assigned from the CLN facilitator

  2. Access the QuickPlace and login

  3. That's it! Join the ongoing dialog, propose your projects, connect with fellow members!

  4. If you have any trouble logging in, email the CLN facilitator