Using Blogs as an Educational Leader

As an educational leader there are many reasons to blog.  The first and foremost is to learn.  As educational leaders we have to stay current and we do this by reading, attending workshops and conferences, and collaborating with colleagues.  Oftentimes we are inundated with information and ideas but do not have the time to process and apply what we have heard.  By blogging about what we have read, seen or heard we are able to retain what we have learned but also reflect on how we can apply it to our educational setting. 

When we use blogs to help us learn and reflect on what we have learned we also begin to gain vision and perspective.  As we blog we are not just writing we are thinking.  We are thinking about what we have learned, how we can apply it, what we would have or should have done differently, and what we need to learn.  With blogging though we have an audience that can participate in our process of thinking.  We are able to receive feedback, additional insight, and hopefully some constructive criticism.  This can also open the doors to additional collaboration with staff, peers and other colleagues. 

Lastly, I believe that blogs allow us the opportunity to showcase ourselves, our classrooms, our schools and our students.  It may sound quite pretentious, but some of the best ideas I have found for my classroom and for my students have come from colleagues showcasing the accomplishments that they are a part of.  By showcasing our successes we are contributing to the greater good of the educational community.