tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post8157755860950929508..comments2023-12-21T06:35:36.624-05:00Comments on Recursivity: Students Want Me to Do Their HomeworkUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-56939434826519044902009-07-31T08:45:44.273-04:002009-07-31T08:45:44.273-04:00The comp.arch method is to compete amongst the reg...The comp.arch method is to compete amongst the regulars on coming up with the most plausible-but-wrong-in-an-interesting-way answer.peterfireflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05050847835479172236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-57711466286302279382009-03-19T02:04:00.000-04:002009-03-19T02:04:00.000-04:00I would say their answers are available online or ...I would say their answers are available online or on their books. I would address them another question? Because students can actually figure out and remember what they have done in class.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't address any solutions via email because they won't even understand it and learn from it.<BR/><BR/>I would encourage them to do their own thinking because it motivates them to learn from their own mistakes and it also motivates them to do more work to reach their goals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-85885290681253528492008-02-11T23:50:00.000-05:002008-02-11T23:50:00.000-05:00Ask them to snailmail you a copy of the question, ...Ask them to snailmail you a copy of the question, and you will respond - at your leisure - in the same manner. No reason why what's worked in the past can't work now.<BR/><BR/>If their letter arrives couriered next-day, assume they're cheating and wait a month anyway.<BR/><BR/>MikePAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-84607303341772214732007-10-14T23:40:00.000-04:002007-10-14T23:40:00.000-04:00Send them the answer back immediately, but encrypt...Send them the answer back immediately, but encrypted with a key derived from using your private key to encrypt the name and year of the following month.<BR/><BR/>So, I ask you "What's 1+1?" You look up your private key , encrypt "November, 2007", and use the result of this (call it n) as a key to encrypt "2". Then, when the first of November comes along, publish n to your blog.<BR/><BR/>This way, you never have to remember more than to publish the key.Jim Applehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11080395413026172939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-1574980348702704842007-10-07T13:43:00.000-04:002007-10-07T13:43:00.000-04:00I'd send them a pointer that would help them to do...I'd send them a pointer that would help them to do the work on their own. So for example, a book recommendation or a website with some sample answers to similar worked problems. Or even a question as to what resources they have tried using so far?<BR/><BR/>That ensures you're not doing someone's homework for them, and at the same time you're not being unhelpful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-89837109983580655662007-10-05T01:07:00.000-04:002007-10-05T01:07:00.000-04:00My personal recommendation would be to only answer...My personal recommendation would be to only answer the student's question if their name is Tyler DiPietro.LancelotAndreweshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11811624673936151225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-30421032857787715032007-10-02T11:54:00.000-04:002007-10-02T11:54:00.000-04:00I usually ask the student what textbook they are u...I usually ask the student what textbook they are using so I can point them to the page where the answer lies.<BR/><BR/>If it's the kind of question that goes beyond the textbook I ask them to tell me what they've learned so far. <BR/><BR/>On rare occasions, with really persistent students who haven't done any work on their own, I've given them the wrong answer. I know this isn't something to be proud of but it made me feel good at the time. :-)Larry Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-29269892813373100652007-10-02T11:32:00.000-04:002007-10-02T11:32:00.000-04:00We occasionally get a flood of emails from student...We occasionally get a flood of emails from students who have just received an assignment. And usually each student sends the same question to several or even all of our staff. But these are generally elementary or high school students, so we sometimes just compile one response, send it to one student and tell him to share it.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07891989201161664914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-70069284804422266142007-10-01T14:51:00.000-04:002007-10-01T14:51:00.000-04:00Jeff’s solution is far better than mine, whi...Jeff’s solution is far better than mine, which has been merely to ask how many other mathematicians they have asked the same question of.<BR/>Megan’s solution is also better than mine, but involves rather more input of work than may perhaps be called for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-72458778285807120712007-10-01T13:08:00.000-04:002007-10-01T13:08:00.000-04:00Depending on how much interaction you can take tim...Depending on how much interaction you can take time for, ask them what THEY think the answer is, or what they've got so far. Basically, encourage them to do their own thinking, and give guidance where they've gone off track, but just enough to help them get back on track. If they are persistent, this can lead to many back and forth emails, but in that case, they are probably genuinely interested in the question, not trying to get their homework done for them.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05394174267762297586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20067416.post-26685186214396311852007-10-01T11:10:00.000-04:002007-10-01T11:10:00.000-04:00Respond a month later with the note, "Sorry I didn...Respond a month later with the note, "Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, your email was accidentally filed into my spam folder and I only just recently cleaned it out."<BR/><BR/>Of course it requires doing a bit of work to handle the reminders yourself, but it also doesn't make the sender aware that you are purposefully avoiding their question because you think that they may be cheating.<BR/><BR/>It also may catch them trying to do it again later (because they presume that you have removed them from your spam filters), at which point a person can use the "ask again in a month" method, and they realize that the jig is up :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com