How Leaders can use Blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs many different ways. District leaders can use blogs to communicate to the community district events, highlight each campus and promote community educational activities. Campus leaders can use blogs among their staff to communicate new strategies and practices in the classroom. Staff members can then communicate through the blog either questions they have about the new practices/strategies or ways the new practice/strategy is working in their classroom. Overall, blogs can be used as a communication tool in education.

Action Research

Action research is research initiated to solve an immediate problem. It is a way a group, team or large organization can improve the way they address issues and solve problems. Groups, teams or large organizations can improve their strategies, practices and knowledge of the environments within which they practice. Action research first begins with planning, then creating the action steps and finally looking at the results.

In education, the steps in action research are used whenever problems arise particularly when evaluating the results from the state assessment.  As an administrator who oversees the mathematics department our team uses the action research concept each time we review data results from common assessments, benchmarks and/or state assessments. In addition, we use action research when assessing current teaching practices utilized in the classroom. When we look at data or current practices being done in the classroom we use action research to develop or improve our teaching strategies and practices in order to close gaps within the classroom. By following the three steps of action research, educators have a way to implement and evaluate what and how curriculum is being taught in the classroom or within a department and the results of local and/or state assessments.

Once the results have been evaluated, we review our initial plan to see where changes need in order for learning gaps to be narrowed. The steps we used whether it pertains to staff development or a math program are also reviewed and evaluated. 

In education we are always looking at ways we can improve our strategies, practices and knowledge within the classroom, grade level, campus or district. Action research can help solve an immediate problem or the way we address issues and solve problems to improve student performance.