Reflective Practice for Educational Leaders

Action Research

Action research is the new approach to inquiry in education, teaching and learning. Also known as practioner research, classroom research and practioner inquiry (Dana, 2009), action research enables principals or aspiring principals to become collaborators in educational research. This is a significant transition from the traditional approach where principals were merely technicians carrying out curriculum and policies framed by outside experts.
A principal or aspiring principal who engages in action research is directly involved in the research process. He or she poses questions or wonderings, collects and analyzes data, and make changes to the school environment based on the new understanding developed during the inquiry (Dana, 2009). During action research the principal also engages with the staff, students and other principals, to gain knowledge and insights about the learning environment and instructional practices. Most importantly, the principal becomes the head learner in the building by taking charge of the research and directly influencing the implementation of best practices to improve teaching and learning.
Action research is not limited to only administrators. Rather, is a powerful reflective practice that all educators can utilize to generate knowledge about teaching and learning, or for raising their voice in policy making (Dana, 2009). As a teacher, I can use this practice to reflect and improve upon my teaching practices. Through reflection I can gain insights into my instructional practices, attitudes towards administrators, other staff members, students and parents, and make necessary adjustments. Reflection will enable me to set goals and seek out the best practices that will facilitate students’ success in the classroom and beyond.




The Power of Blogging: Why Administrators Should Blog

In today’s rapidly changing technology environment where educational institutions have to adopt and adapt, Blogging provides an easy alternative for educational leaders to capture and store their thoughts. Blogging is beneficial to administrators numerous ways: it provides an avenue for educators to reflect on their professional practices; Blogging facilitates collaboration with other educational leaders, as Blogs have links to other Blogs thus enabling its users to not only share their research and insights, but also receive and give feedback; Blog data can be archived for later access references; and most importantly, principals get the satisfaction of belonging to a larger network of principals where they can gain new insights and deeper insights with each visit (Dana, 2009)

Dana Fichman, Nancy (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Martin, Gary E. et al. (2009). School Leadership Internship: developing, mentoring and evaluating your leadership experience. Eye on Education, Larchmont, NY.