Question

can users create new subjects? I'd like to start anatomy, physiology, immunology, and mcat review subjects...

Answer 1

Users cannot make new subjects, though they are allowed to present new ones to the admins and if there is enough support from users then they will consider making it.

Have you looked through our current official groups for one that might be suitable for all of those?

Answer 2

If you look in the upper left there are some blue words that say "Find More Subjects" I actually think we have a subject or two that would be more than acceptable for your proposal.

Answer 3

I think there's a medical science group. These topics - in my opinion - are too narrow by themselves and are easily integrated into that and the Biology group.

Answer 4

I'm new to this site, but I've been a TA for anatomy for a while, I just thought it would be awesome to be able to set up an openstudy for my students...this is way better than blackboard.

Answer 5

i like whiteboards better than black or greenboards

Answer 6

Like a sort of private group, lizcody?

Answer 7

yes - are there private groups?

Answer 8

Not to my knowledge. That might be an interesting idea to explore, though - a sort of private-group application that could be used directly alongside a specific classroom would improve the quality of education, certainly.

Answer 9

In the meantime, I could see myself just giving my students my handle, and telling them "office hours" when I would be online to answer all posted questions under a single handle like "AnatomyLiz" or something... it would also be cool of study groups or themed q&a sessions or seminars could be organized using a similar approach

Answer 10

It's deinitely an interesting idea. Hopefully a moderator sees this.

Answer 11

I could see how it might be a problem, if too many topics create inefficiency (in that they use up too much bandwidth/space or whatever).

Answer 12

Back in the day, users were able to create unofficial groups ~ however, the privilege was abused. We wound up with groups for "The most awesome criminals," "CouplesStudy," "Facebook", "Mr. Grin", "Swag" and others which were impractically time consuming to moderate.

I personally favor a tagging system, whereby questions are posted in the current broad groups and tagged "Anatomy and Physiology" or "Biochemistry" or "Neuroscience" or whatever and we could filter according to key words. Or according to poster - that way people could create their own study groups for themselves and their friends, but they would still be visible to the mods and other users who wish to learn from them.

The argument against doing this is again one of practicality: questions would need to be classified, either manually or automatically, but I don't think it would be as impossible as some people make out.

On an ethical level, I am against the creation of exclusively private groups, as in TA sessions for a particular private class. Which is essentially what universities are, given tuition costs - but I won't even start with my frustration and dissatisfaction with that particular social institution. We all learn from each other - I have certainly learned much on this site reading discussions in which I have not actively participated and would prefer to see all content remain accessible to all users.

But overall I agree: OpenStudy should look closely at ways it can be integrated more solidly into traditional education. I hope you do use OS for your class, lizcody - there are some professional physiologists and pathophysiologists in the bio group who would be very excited and would contribute much!

Answer 13

I agree with a tagging system, for example, if i have a question, or answer a question about a particular topic, it would be nice to be able to see other similar questions (so I can check my understanding of a topic, or see related concepts)...maybe a user-gen tagging system could work, but an automated algorithm to generate key words would be good - and could be user verified by having someone click on, or generate a tag whenever they post a question or answer ?