Using Blogs for Educational Leaders

There are several different ways that educational leaders may use blogs. Blogs can be used as a collaboration forum, feedback tool, discussion board, update staff on important information, tool for staff development. There is no limit to the things that can be accomplished using blogs.
WARNING: Be sure to check with the technical support at your campus to be sure that the blog you are suing is not blocked by the firewall!

Important things about Action Research

Action research is the systematic process for examining one's own practices and then taking action based on the results of the inquiry. So in practice this would be a self examination of how you dealt with the day's, week's, or maybe even the month's events. Take a deep look at what happened, how you handled it, how you could handle it differently, how your actions impacted the school, etc... Once you have thought about all these things, then take a look at what you can do in the future to have a better outcome. What action needs to be taken by you, your staff, students, or others to make the events or situation better for the school and/or community as a whole. Action research differs from traditional educational research because it requires those involved to engage in reflective action. Action research makes the practitioner the storyteller, unlike traditional research where the practitioner is merely the technician or a character in the story. This process is cyclical in stead of linear or discursive. Also, action research places the researcher as an insider instead of an outsider like traditional research methods. Action research is focused on providing insight to the administrator's own practices instead of focusing on control, predictions, impacts, or explaining a process or phenomenon. There are several benefits of conducting action research besides just providing a meaningful way for the administrator to grow professionally. The first benefit is that action research will change the school's norm of isolation. Action research will force teachers as well as administrators out of isolation and into collaborative groups. Another benefit is that principals become role models for both teachers and students. A third benefit is that action research helps best practices to flourish with in a school. A final benefit of this type of inquiry is that it slows down the harried pace of the work place. All the benefits have a huge impact on the culture of the school and will help to improve the overall school culture. I believe that action research is a key tool to implementing change in schools nad improving school culture and climate.