Use of Blogs by Educational Leaders

Blogs can be utilized by educational leaders in a variety of ways.  In relation to action research, the blog could become a journal of discovery as the research is conducted.  Sharing the journal with other campus or district leaders or the researcher themselves could provide insightful reflections thus adding to the body of knowledge which is produced by the research (Dana, p. 87).    The use of blogs can also encourage students to write.  In an example from Dana's book, a principal would visit a class using writer's workshop and write about an action research project while the students were journaling (Dana, p. 89).  What a role model for writing and blogging!  From this example, another use for blogs could be for gathering student, parent or community input. Continuing in this vein of thought, blogs could be utilized for the purpose of mentoring.  Imagine community members who would like to assist students with education but whose work schedules do not allow them to be at the school in person during the typical campus schedule.  Through a blog, eligible mentors could communicate with students any time.  Blogs can also connect administrators to learning communities of other adminstrators, thus providing another source of solutions to those research questions.  In conclusion, blogs can be a productive tool for administrators, both for research and collaboration.