How educational leaders can use blogs

Blogs are an effective way for an educational leader to update staff, inform the public, and collaborate with others. Originally known as "Web Logs," a way to log your daily activities, Blogs have become an integrated part of the lives of most educators, specifically those who use technology on a daily basis.

My thoughts on Action Research

Action research and education seem destined for one another. Not only does action research provide educators the opportunity to address problems from a problem/solution point of view, but it also puts the work into the hands of the people tasked with implementing any recommendations the action research process discovers. Following the model set forth in “Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps from Action to Analysis” educators can address any problem, face any challenge, and empower any group with an easy to follow process designed with results as the goal. Traditional research tells us that information, or data, is the end result of research, but in an action research model, a problem is identified, researched, addressed, and a plan is implemented, by a small, mobile group of education stakeholders who can move quickly without the added restraints of traditional research methodology.

It is exciting to look at school from the “what can we do” perspective, rather than sitting around asking “why is this broken?” As chairman of a recent action research planning committee, I was able to see, first hand, how action research can quickly and effectively affect change in a school. The results were measurable and the actions taken were a result of thoughtful reflection, honest inquiry, and hopeful action.