How can educational leaders use blogs?

Through the readings (Dana, 2009) and other research on blogging, two ideas on how blogging can be used by educational leaders stands out in my mind - REFLECTING and SHARING.

Reflections, essential to improve in all aspects of life, are, in my mind, the most important part of blogging.  Journaling ideas, thoughts, data, and actions can lead to a better understanding of the "why" in one's leadership experience.  Putting thoughts together and organizing the information can only be helpful to the position, if used properly.

Beyond that, blogs can be used to share the ideas, thoughts, data, and actions that you post with peers and, on occasion, with students.  Sharing with peers can elicit feedback and further help enrich the experience of being an educational leader.  Sometimes it takes someone else reading through one's ideas to fill in the small gap that was missing to take the blogger to the next level.  Also, allowing students to view the blog provides them with a greater insight into their own education and the process of it, and can also model a passion for writing.

Questions can be answered, thoughts and ideas confirmed, and data can be discussed further to create a valuable tool that improves inquiry and the educational experience for all involved.  Without a doubt, if used properly, educational leaders can use blogs to improve the learning of students, the teaching of teachers, and the overall experience of life within the walls of the classroom or school that the leader cares so deeply about.

References

Dana, N.F. (2009).  Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action     

researcher.  Thousand Oaks,  CA: Corwin Press.