Blogging IS for Educators!

Okay, I am so excited about becoming an official blogger!!  I didn't realize how easy it was.  Wow - I can think of MANY ways to use a blogspot in my current position as a high school principal.  This is the perfect way for me to keep students and teachers updated on all the campus happenings.  I typically text all teachers final scores/outcomes of games or other competitions that our students are involved in.  I can see how this would be much easier and would reach more people.  I like that fact that we can choose whether we want to allow comments or not.  Sometimes, I'd just want the info to be put out there and to brag on students and/or staff - no comments wanted.  Other times, I'd definitely want comments...if I need teacher/parent/student input on a decision/issue; it'll be nice that they will have a chance to read what others are saying about the issue.  I can also see a great opportunity for teachers to set up blogspots to use with their students.  I can also see how you'd have to develop parameters for teacher/student blogging.  We could end up in lots of trouble without establishing the boundaries!

Action Research

After reading a few articles related to Action Research (AR) in education, this model seems to closely reflect the "improvement cycle" that most educators have been trained in.  AR is a valuable research model in that it forces practitioners (us) to study, understand, and improve our own actions...sort of a self-evaluation of our own behavior used in making decisions for resolving a particular issue or problem.  It gives us opportunity to practice the type of independent learning behavior  we want from our own kids:  identify a problem; attempt a solution; if your attempt fails, that's okay; figure out why it failed; try another solution.  We all know how powerful that "cycle" is to the learning process. 

I can see the benefits of using Action Research in most decision making that goes on on my campus now...I can certainly see how it would benefit me in the role of a superintendent, as well.  If we were to incorporate this process in our daily decision-making practices, it would mean daily self-reflections and monitoring, and analyzing our own actions with regard to outcomes; we would all be better leaders for having done so.  Imagine how powerful that could be.  It would give us an opportunity to recognize and understand our own leadership practices and how to improve our practices...a chance to "self-diagnose." 

And, best of all, with the technology at our fingertips, we have a chance to share what we learn about ourselves with each other!