To design and launch a community of practice that will empower congregational educators to incorporate Web 2.0 technologies into their work.

The creation of this professional development and knowledge sharing community of practice helped staff and lay leadership of client organizations to best utilize their available technology tools and learn from each other. Members learn from each other by sharing resources and expertise, problem-solving, and developing collective wisdom on an ongoing basis in order to grow professionally, improve their practice, and advance the field.

Network participants learn from experts in the field, receive mentoring to develop individual projects, and share insights with each other through frequent online connection. They begin to experience the internet as their students do, and by doing so enhance their own creativity and potential as educators. To model the two-way dialogue characteristic of Web 2.0, Darim Online encourages these educators to flip the roles of student and teacher, with students teaching the teachers how to use these tools and “play.”

The Darim Online Learning Network was successful in introducing Web 2.0 sites and capabilities to previously unfamiliar congregational educators, who gained enough confidence and expertise to apply their new technological knowledge to their work. The impact of the Learning Network extended beyond the classroom, as many participants reported that their work had inspired their congregations, schools, and organizations to become more interested in and willing to experiment with social media and other technology.