Why just GIVE them the answer? How does that help them learn? I understand HELPING a student by guiding them, pointing them in the right direction so they can research their question and find the answer themself.
C'mon people, don't just do their homework for them!
2007-11-22 16:20:06 · 10 answers · asked by Jethro 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I usually steer clear of "homework" type questions.
I'll post a helpful link sometimes eg. for the recent flurry of questions about moon phases, I'll post a link to Virtual Moon Atlas so they can download this resource.
But that's about it.
2007-11-22 22:55:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you know when a question is "obviously" a homework question? I've been on YA a while, and this is my fourth Yahoo account. Each of my previous accounts was deleted because I said something impolitic and a gang of leftists decided that it would be great fun to report me again and again. But I'm not here for the status of having a high level. I'm here to teach what I can.
To do that, I often compose celestial mechanics questions and let other YA members try to solve them. A few of them are quite good at it. And I suspect that several others might do well if saying "Do Your Own Homework" didn't give them such a self-righteous thrill.
Let me set the record straight. I am not in school. I did major (in astronomy and in physics) in college, but I graduated in 1982. I am not enrolled in an astronomy course, or any other course, now. Not even by correspondence. I do pose myself challenges, however, with the latest one being the accurate targeting of a position on Earth's surface for asteroid attacks. Just in the spirit of fun, of course. I'm not going to do it.
But I don't need assistance other than in the acquisition of position and velocity data of high accuracy, and for that I'd turn to the US Naval Observatory and NASA/JPL, not to Yahoo Answers. None of my questions, therefore, are homework questions.
2007-11-22 20:39:51 · answer #2 · answered by elohimself 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a great question.
I often answer homework-type questions when the inquirer seems genuinely interested in the solution. When I do so, I give a detailed account of how I arrived at the solution.
I hope that users here will actually attempt to *understand* how to solve the problem, and I tend to give users the benefit of the doubt. However, if the person indicates their laziness by posting several questions in rapid succession that are obviously from a single assignment, I draw the line. To me that indicates a desire only to "get the answers", rather than to understand the process.
The lazy types will likely "crash and burn" on their exams anyway, regardless of how many answers they are given. So when I err, I try to do so in favor of students who are truly seeking this understanding. If I inadvertently hand out answers to others, any harm done will probably self-correct at mid-terms.
Just my two bits on the subject.
2007-11-22 16:51:09 · answer #3 · answered by phoenixshade 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because usually if people resort to Yahoo! Answers, that means they can't find the answer anywhere else. Not to mention, they expect that someone will be kind enough to help them by showing them the process in which they got their answer so they can reuse the process. I personally think that you should use a guiding method, and show them the answer. Obviously, if they ask series after series of questions, then they're just trying not to do their homework, but sometimes you really do need help, and have nowhere else to turn.
2007-11-22 16:25:01 · answer #4 · answered by Linzz 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
To be fair to the students, this is a form of research too. It is not the kind of tool that would have been available way back when I was in school; but, it is certainly available today. If anyone should be faulted, it should be their teacher for assigning short answer questions rather then something more creative and thought stimulating.
2007-11-22 16:44:20 · answer #5 · answered by n2s.astronomy 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I generally don't on principle, but I do agree with campbelp's contention. It's a question and answer forum, so ours not to reason why . . .
I am alarmed, though, at the poor sense of self-preservation of anyone who asks questions (homework or non) on Wacko! Answers. If the question is on a topic that I know about and that interests me, and they're getting "I heard that . . ." type of answers, I'll answer with my best and hope they have some discernment. If it's not something I have time or inclination to answer, I'll just hope they have discernment.
2007-11-22 17:22:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they have enough stress allready!
If they get a few free answers here and there I'm sure they've still gotta work on a bunch of other stuff!.....
And I think studying is fine, but spending ten to twenty years doing it? Slavery and prolonged torture!!!
2007-11-23 01:27:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they need help and I like giving answers. But sometimes I just give partial answers or hints. I do this for my own kids too. In person though, not on line!
2007-11-22 16:23:11 · answer #8 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Some people are not educators, so they do not know what should be most beneficial to them. And they do their home works for them.
Sometimes original thoughts were given,that is bad for both of them.
2007-11-22 16:40:32 · answer #9 · answered by chanljkk 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Giving the answer does help them learn, at least they they have the answer, that is knowledge.
2007-11-23 03:06:52 · answer #10 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋