Educational Leaders use of Blogs

The use of weblogs is excellent way for an administrator to capture "thinking" when collecting data for action research. Through this type journaling, the leader can track the data collection necessary for action inquiry while also sharing the blogs with others involved in the action research.

Action Research

Action research, also known as action inquiry, is a process whereby a practitioner or teacher focuses on a concern of theirs and then engages other teachers in the action plan. The practitioners will create a design, collect data, research literary material and implement the action strategies and evaluate their effectiveness. It is through action research that practitioners are engaging in the study of their own professional practice. This action inquiry is created within and not by outside resources which also creates ownership in the process. According to Dana, it is through action research, that we can improve schools from the inside out rather from the outside in. Thus the action research process is an tool for improving both teaching and learning.

Marjorie Ringler, states that action research is essentially an extension of "good teaching" whereby the process validates the teachers effective practices in the classroom. Learning issues are addressed and teachers are motivated to improve their teaching to address those issues.

Ringler M. (2007). Action Research an Effective Instructional Leadership Skill for Future Public School Leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice. 4(1), 27-28.