Homework forum

Do you think we should have a special section just for those that want help with their homework ?

I don't think that's a good idea because you're going to be inundated with "questions" like "how do you setup a samba share?". I think the policy of not answering homework questions for people results in them doing the work themselves. If they really get stuck after trying to install and configure samba, they can post a more exact question about the small part that they are stuck on and people will help them out with that small part without doing their work for them.

I threw this idea out there ... as I have been seeing too many Posts that are homework.
I was thinking it would be better to have them out of the Newbie (and other) Forums ...

I'm new around here, but IMHO is say no. It will take every advantage of a homewok.

From the LQ Rules:

Do not expect LQ members to do your homework - you will learn much more by doing it yourself.

So, if you feel inundated with homework questions, Maybe point the person in the right direction (a tutorial, maybe) if you're feeling benevolent. If it's a blatant request for help by cheating, report the thread.

TG

So, if you feel inundated with homework questions, Maybe point the person in the right direction (a tutorial, maybe) if you're feeling benevolent. If it's a blatant request for help by cheating, report the thread. TG

it is true that it is wrong to ask somone else do your work, but i fail to see how it is cheating; it is simply learning from another source.

There has been some obvious ... "Please give me the solution" posts.

For some reason the poster gets mad when they are not given that ... instead of the suggestions we provide.

it is true that it is wrong to ask somone else do your work, but i fail to see how it is cheating; it is simply learning from another source.

There's a name for asking someone to do your work for you, especially academically: "cheating"

@Smeezekitty: there is a difference between the types:
Type 1: I have an assignment and it's on networking, I have the following information and have managed to find out this information, but I need help pulling it together. If you could point me at a how to or manual I'd be grateful.

Type 2: I have 4 questions, here they are. Provide me answers.

Guess which type of question we encourage and which type we close....

Originally Posted by dxqcanada I threw this idea out there

My opinion is NO.

I have been seeing too many Posts that are homework. I was thinking it would be better to have them out of the Newbie (and other) Forums ...

Ask yourself some questions relevant to your idea:

1) Would it be helpful for the good "help with my homework" posts to be gathered in a homework forum rather than in programming or networking, etc. forums that fit the homework topics?

2) Would it be helpful for the bad "do my homework for me" posts to be gathered in a homework forum?

3) Would having a homework forum tend to cause a significant fraction of homework posts to be put into that forum. Which fraction? Think about good and bad homework posts, first time and subsequent homework posts, those that admit to being homework vs. those that try to hide or even deny it.

I'll grant the answer to (2) is yes.

I don't think the answer to (1) is yes.

But the important point is the answer to (3) is mostly "no" and especially "no" for the posts we would most like to go in the homework forum. I think that is enough to kill the whole idea.

I think we do a decent job of responding to homework posts scattered around other forums.

Another No.

One problem is that a majority of homework posts are spur of the moment--often just a copy and paste--and the poster is not likely to get familiar with the forum layout because they are now in trouble and maybe even panicking. In many cases the homework post is the first and the last from the person.

There is also a point to be made that simply by identifying the proper forum for the question, the would be poster has already started themselves towards figuring the thing out for themselves. LQ benefits from people learning how to use it properly and in so doing the users are benefitted even more by doing so.

Originally Posted by pixellany ... the poster is not likely to get familiar with the forum layout ...

You are right about that ... most of the obvious "Homework" posts are replicated in more than one Forum.

OK. Sounds like a no to me ... and I agree.

Thanks for the feedback.

there's a homework forum down at unix.com

... and the Rules For Homework