Students and teachers aren't the only ones whose way of interacting and learning are being transformed by Web 2.0. You can increase your effectiveness as a district problem solver if you go about your work differently as well. 

Four Strategies for Building Leadership Knowledge and Skills in Web 2.0 World.

• Foster collaboration within your district. Supporting a participatory culture of learning entails a participatory culture of leadership. Expand your decision-making and project teams to capture the collective wisdom of district and school experts and the people the district office serves. Cultivate diverse perspectives from people who don’t always have a voice. Make it clear that you welcome and value their contributions and ask them to share responsibility for improvement. Web 2.0 applications and tools make it easier for more people to collaborate productively.

• Participate in peer groups and educational technology organizations. District leaders cannot operate effectively in a vacuum. By getting involved in peer groups and educational technology organizations outside of your district, you can join communities of practice that will help you stay abreast of regional, state, national and international developments in education and educational technology, including Web 2.0. Plus, Web 2.0 applications and tools make it easier for you to participate in these groups affordably, without leaving your district.

• Make continuous exploration and learning a habit. Just as you want teachers and students to be lifelong learners, you can approach educational leadership with a mindset of ongoing professional inquiry. Web 2.0 applications and tools give you access to rich resources. Consider regular use of podcasts or videocasts of academic lectures and expert presentations, reading of educational blogs and news aggregators, and participation in Web-based courses and communities of practice.

• Build the capacity of your district leadership team. Knowledge- and skill-building habits are essential for every member of your team. Model, encourage and recognize these professional behaviors for your team. Point your colleagues to valuable Web 2.0 resources, such as Online Universities’ 50 Best Blogs for Education Leaders.