Google groups are amazing; they are also the perfect metaphor for why the open-source software development model is so successful. Most upper division CS classes utilize a Google group so students can collaborate. Students receive answers to their questions much faster than waiting for specific times to ask the teacher or TA because the nature of Google groups allows collaboration and learning 24/7. Letting anyone, even the dumbest person in class, answer your question seems counterintuitive to learning. The beauty of the open-source model, though, is that if a question gets answered wrong, others will inevitably answer it right. The power of anytime, any-person collaboration drives open-source projects, like Linux, and fuels a competitive model for software development.
Agreed, 10 average minds looking at something is almost always better than one brilliant mind.
ReplyDeleteThis also possibly suggests a shift in education - perhaps in the future departments will find less reason to hire TAs, since people can just have their questions answered for free in a google group by a bright classmate.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredible that this actually works and people actually change when they see something wrong. It just seems to be part of our human nature to help each other out, which should give us great hope for the future.
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