I am so excited about my first individual video conference with my field supervisor, Dr Jimmie Creel, that is set up for February 23. I don't like the camera part, but I love the question and answer format. It will be a great opportunity to be mentored by a man with so much superintendent experience.

EDLD5396 SP1 12 SU3003 1st Web Conference Notes

January 26, 2012 7:00PM Conference Notes for Cohort 5

For those of you that could not make the web conference tonight, it was worthwhile to attend (not mandatory) but worth the time. Dr Creel gave us date ranges for our 3 individual web conferences with him. Conference #1 between February 20 and March 5th (will set time and date for 2nd one) , Conference #2 between April 16 and May 4th (will set time and date for 3rd one), Conference #3 between July 9 and July 23rd. He said to pick a date and time between 8:30 AM and 9:30 PM and send him an email with your 1st choice date and time and a 2nd choice date and time.

Dr Creel will post it somewhere for us to look at when we miss them. Did not ask that question;Where will the web conferences be posted to view?

Next week is Thursday, February 2nd  6:30PM (central time). You need a web cam and microphone. Ms Pam Komer will speak on the Lamar TK20. It is not optional is my understanding. When you sign in put your name EDLD5396 SP1 12 SU3003 like Earl did tonight. Good job, Earl. Dr Creel has lots of experience and will be fun to work with in my opinion.

I love being a life long learner!

Brenda's Blip: How Leaders Can Use Blogs

I have learned that building a blog, updating a blog, posting to a blog, and reading other people's blogs can be easy to create, harder to customize, instructional, frustrating, time-consuming (I'm guessing this one is mostly for us older educators/learners/immigrants trying to become native ), inspiring, informative, a provider relevant search, easily shared in other social network sites, and can have endless possibilities available.

As Educational Leaders, we can use blogs to learn the latest news in any field of interest, to action research educational issues, to model continuous learning, to tell real stories about the environment to encourage learning, to share school news, to communicate in emergencies with a school or community. Blogs can be used to better connect and communicate with all stakeholders or a small community of learners. Blogs can be used by university cohorts to connect for class learning, sharing,  projects, and assignments. Blogs can be used by leaders for team building. 

In the book, The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner, the authors describe 5 practices of exemplary leadership, which are the following:
1. Model the Way, 2. Inspire a Shared Vision, 3. Challenge the Process, 4. Enable Others to Act, and 5. Encourage the Heart (http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/hr/2012/01/19/be-the-leader-others-want-you-to-be/). As a leader we must use technology like blogging and many others to model the way for teachers to use blogs in teaching. As leaders we must communicate our vision and help stakeholders share in the vision and this can be easily accomplished through blogging. As leaders we must challenge and lead in the process. So through blogging we express need for change and challenge the team to help make it happen. The team can follow the blog and add posts to the blog to contribute to the vision and action research. As a leader uses a blog it will enable others to act and participate. As an educational leader who blogs we can encourage the heart of ourselves and other stakeholders when we share the vision, share in the process and work together as part of the team instead of standing above with the attitude of "do as I say not as I do". As an educational leader we need to be an active blogger; posting, searching, and reading blogs.  

Brenda's Blip on Action Research

By definition, we as students in Cohort Five of the Superintendent certification program through Lamar University Academic Partnership are participating together in action research as we aim to improve our strategies and practices as administrators and gain knowledge of the environments where we work. Action research can take place in a school setting from elementary to post secondary and from an individual or groups of any or all stakeholders. Action research is a reflective process of participatory, collaborative, problem solving led by an individual or individuals to improve the way they address issues, problem solve and improve their environment. It is composed of asking questions, gathering data, reflecting on the information, and deciding on a course of action. As change occurs from action research new situations appear that need action again. I have learned that action research when paired with scientifically based research improves classrooms, schools, and districts by challenging and encouraging educators to make good decisions to change instruction and to change the environment that in turn affects all learners (I.E. all students, teachers, administrators, parents, and stakeholders). The NCLB Act (2002) defines scientifically based research as "research that involves the application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and programs"; while action research is not always as rigorous and systematic. Action research is a continuing cycle of asking and improving. I look forward with great anticipation to the next nine months of action research with Cohort 5 then continuing to use action research in my school and community environments. 01-21-2012 EDLD 5396 

Steve Jobs' 2005 Commencement @ Stanford