Action research serves as a powerful tool to educational leaders today. Through action research, these transformational leaders work to serve the school community as a "head learner" and dedicate their lives to consistent and constant self evaluation and school improvement. Action research differs from traditional educational research in the sense that it is conducted by someone within the school community, such as an administrator or a school stakeholder. It originates out of a "wondering" or inquiry into the areas of need for the betterment of a school or campus. Through action research the opportunity for collaboration amongst school stakeholders presents itself, and a plan of action to address or answer the original articulated inquiry is developed. Without questions, there would be no need to seek answers. No change would be intentional, and without intentional change directed at the betterment of schools and education, little to no improvement will take place. In order for continuous school improvement to foster, administrative inquiry must be present. Time must be allowed and respected for inquiry and the development and implementation of the school improvement action plan. In the forever changing world we live in today, educational leaders must dedicate themselves to becoming a life-long learner. I believe this process starts with an inquiry and develops into an intentional action plan. The action research process is cyclical as it becomes not necessarily just something an administrator does, but becomes part of who the administrator is. It is my prerogative to one day serve as an educational leader of this sort, one who strives to continuously better themselves, teachers, students and schools. As an educator, I plan to use action research to better my own practices, better the campus at which I serve, and through my efforts in education, hopefully better society as a whole.
Blogs can serve as a learning tool for educational leaders today. They present an opportunity for communication and collaboration amongst educators. Blogs allow educators to reflect on inquiries and conducted action research. These reflections can be shared with others and may prove beneficial to many administrators in regards to school improvement. Blogs allow one to put inquiries, ideas and thoughts on paper. Blogs can also serve as a tool for self evaluation for educators. One is able to organize their ideas and access over time the growth or action taken on the original thought. It is a great benefit to gain knowledge and insight from others, and this can be done by reviewing other educators' blogs.
