Friday, August 30, 2013

Educational leaders who blog

Educational leaders who blog understand the power of connection blogging can have. These technological tools are a fantastic way to share ideas with numerous readers both close to home and far away. One great way for an educational leader to use a blog is to share new findings on various school-related topics with students, staff, parents, and the community. It would mimic the old-school newsletter, with the possibility of adding links, videos, and comments. Another way for educational leaders to use a blog would be to have group participants follow the blog and post group topics. This could be in terms of PTA groups, committees, grade levels, and district-wide professional learning communities.

What I Have Learned

Action research is research initiated by the learner in order to solve an immediate problem. In other words, it is someone taking a problem they are dealing with, researching it, studying it, coming up with ways to solve the problem, trying those solutions, and going back to the drawing board if needed. The learner is uncovering solutions by using various problem-solving techniques.

Action research differs from traditional educational research in that the inquiry comes from the participant conducting the research rather than an outsider with no experience in the school environment (Dana, 2009, p. 4). The latter frequently causes irritation because insiders are being told what to do from outsiders who have no clue what is going on in the school day to day. As a result of the action research the school system has improved because of insider perseverance .

The benefits of conducting action research include an increase in knowledge as well as positive change in the school system. This type of change and knowledge is more beneficial to the system as the inquiry has come from inside rather than outside and therefore the knowledge is more meaningful. Participant "engagement in this process can help best practices to flourish" (Dana, 2009, p.13).



Citations

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press