EDLD 5301 Week 2 Reflection

This week was tough.  I had a hard time deciding on what my action research topic will be.  My site mentor was full of ideas but he kept changing his mind.  Finally we agreed on a topic that fit in well with my internship plan and would not bore me to death in the process.  I learned from watching video interviews that you should select a topic that interested you and one that was practical and measurable.  The videos were very helpful and encouraging.

The readings this week were very good as well.  It was great to read several examples of action research, in real educational settings, in each of the 9 passion areas.  The readings helped me see all of the potential areas that action research can be beneficial in, while in a school setting.  It also made me realize all of the areas a principal has to deal with when they are leading.

EDLD 5301 - How Can Educational Leaders Use Blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs in several different ways.  As a school leader they can use blogs as a forum to communicate important school information to their stakeholders .  Blogs can be used to gain feedback from stakeholders on various topics of concern, as an online diary, and also as a way to model writing for students (Dana, 2009).   Blogs that are used regularly can be a great source of collaboration with and support from other educational leaders.  Dana (2009), explains that blogs are a great place for administrators to share their inquires in order to play with, develop, and challenge ideas that have developed about their administrative practices as a result of engaging in inquiry (Dana, 2009, p. 150).

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

EDLD 5301 Week 1 - What I Have Learned About Action Research

I have learned that even though there are several different terms that can describe it, action research is really just the systematic, intentional study of the administrators own practices and taking action for change based on the results of what was learned (Dana, 2009, p. 2). Educators need to be fully involved in action research in order to be truly effective. All professionals need to be willing to look at what they are doing and seek feedback from others as to what they maybe able to do to improve. If you are not willing to that then you are not going to be effective for long. Action research is especially important for educational leaders to perform. For decades educators have allowed outsiders to dictate what we should be doing in our schools to help our students achieve success. These outsiders rarely have any clue at all what it is like in a real classroom and they cannot possibly understand how different the classrooms are from one school to the next.

I can use action research in several ways. I can use it to help determine teaching strategies that could be more effective ways of engaging my at risk students. Action research can be used to help me, as CATE department chairperson, plan professional development opportunities for my teachers that they will find relevant and engaging. Introducing my teachers to action research and having them study something that they need improvement on or are curious about themselves would also be a very relevant professional development activity for my department.

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