Question

This is needed for any sort of really helpful response: The level of education of person asking question, i.e. how much the tutor should assume the student knows.

Answer 1

On here I generally assume they know nothing, so I explain everything just to be clear. Though if it is clearly a higher level question I assume they have some knowledge of the subject.

Answer 2

Well there has to be a limit...you can't be expected to explain EVERYTHING.

Answer 3

Lol, that is very true. I write at a depth that I can be bothered with at the time (yep, does sound lazy). I just figure that if a person doesn't know something you talk about it's up to them to ask you but I do try to keep in simple.

Answer 4

That's what I would do too, but if there was an indicator of what level they're asking at then I would know if I was writing too much or too little. This would be useful info regardless of how much I felt like writing, and I mean useful on the part of the student.

Answer 5

Yeah a level thing would be handy, even if it was just high school level/ uni level division or something.

Answer 6

Yes, and if there was an option to type in some clarifying info that would be nice. For example someone could pick University Level and add which course the the question is for. This is very useful in my opinion for math/physics based curricula.

Answer 7

well like at each grade lvl there is great disparity due to diff standards. Also, there are some stuff a freshmen knows that seniors forget. Also, such a delineation in levels of knowledge would be hard to do but that is in my head. However the comment above mine (max) has a good point but when people go look at the question it is assumed oh yeah there is something there that indicates this is a tough question meaning tough class. But just do what a lot of people do. Do what you want and if the asker needs more help than u type to explain

Answer 8

Yeah, some askers need to leave more information and it would be very useful more the majority of subjects. Henry, sure levels do vary but for example in terms of posting a link to someone I'm not always sure if they would understand or even have access to the paper. Also detail and assumptions change according to year level - even just a general grouping would just be handy. In saying all of this though they are planning a pile of changes so who knows whats coming :)

Answer 9

Honestly, we're all about real time interactions. If you're talking to the person in real time, you should have the opportunity to ask them what level they're at, and tailor your response accordingly.

In cases where they're offline by the time you get to the question, I definitely see how it could get complicated, however. I tend to agree with TranceNova's strategy of describing at whatever level you're comfortable with/willing at the particular moment and allow the other person to ask for more details if needed. You can also prefix it with `I'm assuming you know X, let me know if that's not the case'.