Independence Day?

Back from a long weekend without fireworks.  The drought is so bad here that no one was allowed to shoot off a single firecracker.  Sadie, my dog, was thrilled.  It didn't quite feel like a holiday though. 

I celebrate independence on one day and officially start a new job the next!  This job--interdisciplinary coach--does not really have a definition.  We are building it as we go with the help of Alan November and Bill Dagget.  You know what they say about too much freedom....  What to do with myself?  I continue using Diigo in Education as a source of new reading information.  As an English educator, I have always thought of ideas or found new ideas and then looked for resources to read more about it.  Through the research I was looking for justification of the idea or possible extensions to an idea or just a new way to address a consistent problem.  I knew the leaders in the field and where to go to find them.  I don't know the leaders in this field.  Who is valued?  Who should I trust?  Who simply has an idea, and who has truly researched and proven their ideas have value?  My new found technology independence leaves me feeling confined by my lack of knowledge.  So I ask you--the universe of ed tech folks--who are the researchers in this field?  Who has a trusted voice?  Until I find those folks, I will wander in this crowded field of next ideas.

My wanderings today have helped me to find a very interesting idea:  http://www.technologybitsbytesnibbles.info/archives/5066 This is a blog on the use of QR codes.  The notion is to take a book (picture book used for this example but any book or article would benefit) and link it to web sites that add to one's understanding of the book through the use of QR codes.  The author of the article found the sites and made the links.  But a person who commented on the blog suggested that teachers allow students to find the sites and create the links.  Both are interesting ideas.  These links could fill in gaps of background knowledge; they could also extend the reader's knowledge.  Imagine how teachers could enhance a student's knowledge in science by sending them to videos or simulations.  There is potential for this at any level and in any content area.  One more tool to add to the list!

As I think about wanting to find good research and the notion of independence, it seems that this is an excellent opportunity to apply my understanding of action research.   How will these tools work in our middle school classrooms?  I am anxious for teachers to return in August.  Who will want to join this adventure with me?