User:BGinOC

WikiService

Memberships & Interests

Language

Education

Politics/Beliefs

Software/Hardware

Hello,

So you came to check me out. Alright, here goes...

I am History Major in college working towards a teaching degree after spending 20 years as a graphic designer for the print industry (Should'a chose video editing way back when!!!). Anyway, my main interests are Military History, the 20th Century and Aviation to name a few.

As I find them to join, my interests are listed to the right:

Why I write for Wikipedia
As a student and teacher, I believe that Wikipedia can be a useful tool both in the research of any topic of study as well as in the learning of any subject. If its not there yet, Google it, read about it and write an article about it (and don't forget to cite your sources). By writing about it, you will better retain the knowledge you have learned while also helping others who in the future may cross your footsteps and be interested in the subject you just wrote about.

Look around your home town, ever wonder why Franklin Park is so named? Go look it up in the local library and read about it. You may find out that the park is not named for Ben Franklin as you may have thought but perhaps a long since forgotten resident of the town who passed away a long time ago and donated his land to the township or city for use as a park.

While Wikipedia can be both a learning tool and a an excellent reference guide, most educators (at least in my experience) frown upon citing sources from Wikipedia as some articles are not well written or cited. However, as Wikipedia improves and grows this is slowly changing somewhat. While still frowned upon as a main source, Wikipedia can, via the article's citations and references, help you find acceptable sources. Don't be afraid to ask if you can cite Wikipedia, some instructors will allow it, others won't. If not, no worries as you still have the references used by those who contributed to the article to check out and in most cases these sources can guide you in your pursuit of knowledge on the subject matter of your studies.

Well if you read this far, drop me a note on my talk page and say "hi" as obviously, something clicked...

Live in joy and embrace the happiness of being alive! And don't spend all day in front of the computer screen for goodness sake, go outside and play once in a while when its sunny outside.

Cheers!