5301 Week 1 Blog Posting

What I have learned about action research and how I might be able to use it.
I have learned that action research is a spiraling systematic method of investigating using questioning, data collection, strategy development, logical reasoning and evaluation. I will use this method of research to help define a plan of action when problem solving. Areas in need of improvement will be pondered, then readily available data will be collected from school records or by interviewing employees. Then literature-based research will need to be conducted by referring to relevant journal articles, magazines and other published information to assist in developing a strategy to help improve the problem. The last step is to evaluate if the plan eliminated or at least improved the problem.
One problem that I'm particularly concerned about in our school is teacher morale. Due to deteriorating circumstances in the last few years, teacher morale has declined. I would like to interview some of the staff in order to collect some readily available information. I have already reviewed some literature, of which there is much, learned that teacher morale is a huge problem in many schools. I would then like to, in conjunction with the current principals, develop a strategy for improving morale among our teachers. The research I've already reviewed suggests a strong correlation between high teacher morale and increased student success.

How Educational Leaders Might Use Blogs
Blogging can be an additional means of data collection for a principal. Private blogs can be used to record particularly important details of a school situation that are only relevant to the principal or, perhaps too personal or emotional to record in an educational record. With the amount of litigation today, personal blogs could help an administrator recall details that may not have been recorded in a student or employee file.
A public blog by an administrator could be used to publish personal notes to students, parents and teachers concerning formal or informal information. A blog could be considered a more individual method of communication that just a quote from the principal in the student newsletter. Principals could publish a weekly blog post containing upcoming school events, school information or progress reports on a school renovation project.