Webwork Redux
So, over the last few weeks I've gotten into the habit of trading Mathematica expertise for Webwork screenshots. You'd be surprised by how quickly word travels in these hallow ivy halls.
This has created a somewhat ethical conundrum for me. You see, I am happy to help students do well in classes, but I feel like I am doing more harm than good. I even have a little disclaimer that I recite before we begin: "You have to learn Calculus. Mathematica will help you get the answer, but it won't help you understand the problem. You have to understand how to solve these problems if you want to do well on the exams. You can't use Mathematica on the exams. So ask your teacher for help."
I hope that the fact that their midterms and finals are real, closed-book/closed-laptop exams will be sufficient motivation to really learn the material, and not just cruise through the homework with the help of Mathematica.
Still, I feel rather guilty. And, I'm quite angry that the teaching curriculum empowers this sort of situation.
6 Comments:
hey Irina, you helped me, and I relaly appreciate it. i still studied the stuff on my own, but mathematica is a good tool and i want to know how to use it. i will use it in my other classes too.
Well, Ok. That makes me feel better. I hope you do well on your exams, and have a good break.
I still think that you should charge them money. I never understood this benevolent streak of yours. You are so weird.
I'm also having a difficult time understanding why you are doing this for free. When do you find the time anyway? You should try to get course credit or something.
irina helped me with lots of classes when we were in school. like stochastics, and statistics. it was nice, and i try to help with stuff that i know. good to be friendly.
I can't possibly charge them money. They need help with Calculus, and I don't know Calculus nearly well enough to charge money for my advice. Mathematica is pretty easy, once you know how to use it. It's not like most programming languages, in that it won't give you an error if you do something wrong. It'll still run, but will give you the wrong answer. I know a lot of the little tricks, and don't mind sharing. It doesn't take much time, and I can figure out most bugs over the phone.
Also, whenever I can't figure something out, there's always somebody out there who offers to help me. And I think that's the way it should be.
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