Week Two with Dana readings

After reading chapter 2 of the Dana text abut the nine major wonderings that can lead to action research I was motivated to really want to develop my own and see where it could lead.  I will be anxious to try several of the wonderings during the next year.  I want to continue to grow and learn all that I can.  If I stop learning then I become stagnant and non productive.

How leadership can use BLOGS

Educational leaders can use blogs to give them a place to share and attain knowledge with other teachers or administrators over a period of time.  Blogging would be a way to acquire different views from teachers, students, parents and, not least of all, the business community.  This would involve all stake holders in the community and not just the educators.   In this way, it is then easy for the educational leader to go back and revisit what has been learned or remember facts previously learned but forgotten.

Action Research

Action research is the method of taking time to examine the style in which the principal manages the school.  By doing so, the principal can continually be endeavoring to fine tune or make major changes to the campus as dictated by everyone that would be involved.  This would prevent one outside entity from looking in trying to “fix” a problem that may not exist.  This could be one of the most effective ways to help encourage change from within.  Too often in education solutions are thought up and planned without ever a person stepping foot onto a campus.  Outside help does not understand the makeup of the school and the strategies that worked on another campus are not the strategies needed for this campus.  Through the action research, this is just the opposite. The solution is campus driven thus making it much more attainable and effective.  The principal becomes a learner in the process along side of the campus teachers and students.  When a principal takes the time to learn the concerns of the campus and to start to make strides to change in that direction, then the whole campus becomes a better unit willing to work through problems together and feel like the principal is in the process with them.  This sets the air for leadership and makes all leadership on campus, whether it is a teacher or student, a model to strive for.