Idea Generators: How Educational Leaders Might Use Blogs

Blogs are a simple way for educational leaders to publish their thoughts for all to read and comment. Using a blog as a platform to organize thoughts is one of the best ways a leader can use this electronic tool. Saving some thoughts as drafts and adding to them over time generates new ideas. (Dana, 2009, p. 149) Once an idea has been generated, the leader can post it so others can read and comment.

The leader can use a closed group blog so other administrators and teachers can collaborate by supporting, rejecting, or sharing other considerations about an idea. If more leaders used blogs for collaboration, there were probably be fewer long, boring meetings. If ideas were blogged beforehand, it would make actual meeting and professional development time more productive. 

Finally, leaders can use blogs to connect with parents and the community. Blogging about the vision of the school as well as events is important. This would provide the perfect platform for a leader to share research and work happening on the campuses. It would be a place to show the accomplishments of the students and faculty. It empowers the leader to, "be an advocate" (Dana, 2009, p. 149) for the school.

Sources

Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, a Joint Publication with the American Association of School Administrators.