Question

There needs to be a strict rule on showing your work or at least some sort of attempt before one receives help on here. I'll admit to be a hypocrite to this at times, but helpers need to stop falling for sob stories and ask the op to show some sort of work before showing them how to do certain problems. (Math section mostly) Because otherwise the op is not learning anything and end up continuously asking for help on similar problems, because they think helpers will just do it for them. So I think we need to have a strict rule for this sort of thing.

Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm not saying everyone just gives the answer straight away, but it happens very often on in certain sections, and it needs to change.

Answer 2

Hi,

@directrix made a thread about this issue awhile back. I feel he described what it means to "show your work" extremely well.

>>> http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/50668125e4b08d1852124635

The thread is a good read (though lengthy).

Answer 3

I will give it a read later, thanks @Compassionate :). No matter how many of these sort of posts are made I still believe it will likely continue unless there's a huge banner above the section that says NO CHEATING ALLOWED..or something >_<.

Answer 4

What about someone who really did attempt the problem? Before I even ask on OpenStudy I spend at least 20-40 minutes attempting the problem myself. My most recent Trig Identity I posted I had not shown my own steps. I was so not typing all that especially when the last one I had an issue with just caused way more confusion. I saw the steps and made sure I understood what happened in each step. I thanked the person and moved on.

Answer 5

I guess it all goes down to whether or not the helper trusts that the asker actually did some work on the problem, and learning to recognise when this is so, it takes experience (on this site, and off)

When maths is concerned, you probably don't need to make the asker show the entire solution, just hints that they know what they're doing. Perhaps, if we take the case presented by @MathLegend , if it's proving trigonometric identities, perhaps ask which fundamental identities were key, without actually asking for the rigorous and tedious steps.

Oh, and for the record, if MathLegend said he went through the steps, I'd probably believe him :3

Answer 6

MathLegend and terenzreignz are both right - we do stand against answer giving and stand for tutoring. And directrix had an epic response to this same question a little while ago.

At the end of the day, tutors and students will both get out of OpenStudy what they put in. Like any learning.

If students invest the time and effort to really learn, they don't end up cheating themselves when they have to pass a standardised test with no idea how to do it or cheat their way into a more advanced class where they need to know what they didn't bother to learn.

In tutors invest the time and effort to really teach, they gain a skill that will serve them well all their lives. When they have children of their own and have to teach them far more basic stuff like how to tie their shoelaces and listen to others. Or train a colleague in the work place. Or the patience to feel their way through falling in love, or whatever - these are core skills that go into living a good, solid, happy professional and personal life.

There is a learning curve - both to teaching, and learning. Some people who provide just answers are new tutors who don't know how to teach. So we take care not to run them off the site for skills they are still learning.

Answer 7

I agree!
@blues And tests like the SAT and PSAT- which become essential to college admission later on- students would definetely flunk if they were dependent on other people's help 100%.

I agree @Compassionate, Directrix does a great job trying to enforce the Code of Conduct's no-cheating rule, though posts like these http://openstudy.com/study#/updates/50629492e4b0583d5cd3309d show his effort but also reflect the extreme lazyness some students have towards their work !

You're totally right blues, the student will no benefit if he does not put the effort in, no matter how much the tutor tries at times...

And by the way, @iambatman- there is a strict rule, in the Code of Conduct, though I understand what you mean- maybe it should be more blatant and appearant.

However, @Compassionate I really love satellite73's response on the post by directx that you posted-

"wow what a lot of rules.
my idea would be to relax and not worry
math is hard enough as it is"

Haha, it's funny- but he's kinda right, Directrix gave a whole lot of rules which I deem not entirely neccesary- I do think though that it's the tutor's responsibility to guide the student throughout the question, and if the student is not able to understand it, they shouldn't provide them with a response.