Blogs in Education

Advancements in technology place information at our fingertips, but not all information is created equally! Educational leaders can learn a lot about their teachers and staff by requiring and following research and or progress blogs. Time is a valuable commodity in the school system, therefore blog posting can provided all invested stakeholders an opportunity to be a part of the progress with only a small investment of time. Also, if an obstacle presents itself, there may be a blog follower that can present a new perspective on the issue.

Action Research - Why and How?

Action research is defined as the process in which one engages in systematic inquiry of one’s own practice or behavior and then takes the necessary action for change. Administrative inquiry requires reflection on gathered information, investigation of new concepts, understanding of collected resources, establishment of goals and finally collaboration. When conducting action research it is imperative that successes be explored and possible obstacles be addressed. Author Nancy Dana (2009) states that administrative inquiry is a “process of a principal engaging in a systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry” (p. 2).

There are many uses for action research in schools today. It places the administrators and educators in the middle of issue resolution. Inquiry allows for the key players in the school to be actively engaged in the research and reflection process when working towards change.

Action research is a valuable tool that allows an administrator to identify areas of concern on campus and lead the investigation personally to find the most productive solutions. It is a personal journey of inquiry and reflection. The key benefit of principal inquiry is that once you have completed your journey, the product you have created is a personalized solution for your school’s needs.

Reference

Dana, N.F. (2009).  Leading with passion and knowledge:  The principal as action researcher.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Corwin Press.