Post #9

In this versatile age of technological advancement, the evolution of the world wide web has been significantly influential in both the public and private spheres of everyday life. From its initial assent, the Internet has spawned a number of useful tools and web-based resources that can be readily applied to instruction within the classroom. Of all of these tools, however, there is one the clearly outweighs them all in its ability to deliver a monumental amount of viable information to students in a clear, concise and completely accurate way. What is this Internet colossus? I have one word for you: Wikipedia.

Yes indeed. The peer edited and mother approved encyclopedia for every subject imaginable. This site offers articles, pictures, outlines, and a full litany of other functions that provide you, the user, with the best information electricity and a 56k connection can buy. Despite all of its glorious utility, here has been a movement arising almost simultaneously from its birth that staunchly opposes Wikipedia and its constituents. Ironically, this warmongering is lead by the very educational institutions that promote learning and knowledge as the backbone of their existence- but when a learning application hits the public sphere...guess what? It is no longer under their "professional control" and therefore must be "evil" and ultimately skewed and unreliable. In reality, it is actually that very "peer edited" element that Wikipedia promotes that ensures the removal of the biases and pretenses that say a single professor would have in a college class room. Wikipedia offers accountability for fact and truth. In a teacher's classroom, however, they are the only one with authority- projecting a narrower view of events and opinions upon their students. In conclusion, Wikipedia will one day replace all textbooks, articles, and structured curriculum- and the world will be better for it.

The next technological skill I desire to learn, is that of digital map making. You see, I have a craving to venture far into the wild, live by the rushing rivers and thriving forests- and eventually die from excessive frolicking in warm, breezy meadows. However, if I am to find the best and most desirable locations for my jaunting, I shall be in need of some detailed maps to guide me in my search. So, graphic design is where I shall be headed next. Maybe before I finish all of my maps, I will make a simple version of PAC MAN- play it 32 times in a row- and then continue eating my hot-pockets and crafting the longitudinal lines of the Ohio River Valley. In conclusion- corn dogs are better than hot dogs.

The road to success is paved with hard work- blood sweat and tears. It is also paved with lots of money and debt. So, if I am to have the necessary means to reach my technological goals in the classroom- the State of Florida better provide some massive mula. My goals consist of multi-media projectors for each student to take home as gag gifts, individual palm-pilots for the children so that they always have a way to send notes to each other during class, and a mechanical Panda Bear that teaches the class for me while I develop maps using my newly acquired graphic design skills. When it's all said and done, we're looking at an overall cost of $123,987......so are there any doctors out there who'd like to donate 1/2 their yearly salary to the guy whose gonna be teaching your children their fundamentals of speech, while you're on a 2hr lunch break golfing with your buddies? And that's how the cookie crumbles.