Getting and Giving Help

We are #BetterTogether, and encourage you to seek and offer help where you can. Below is some guidance on asking for and giving help.

Getting Help

If you are stuck on a problem or have questions about a topic or tool, drop a message in the dedicated Slack channel. Be sure to:

  • Clearly explain the problem and your objectives
  • Share the steps you've taken so far

Additional learning materials can be found in the Additional Resources section. We are here to assist you, and reaching out ensures a seamless learning journey.

Giving Help

  1. Encourage Independent Learning:

    • Rather than giving direct answers, guide your peers to resources, references, or methodologies that can help them solve the problem on their own. Encourage them to understand the concepts rather than just finding the correct solution. Work through examples that are different from the assignments or practice problems provided in the course to demonstrate the concepts.

  2. Collaborate, Don't Complete:

    • Collaborate on ideas and concepts, but avoid completing assignments or projects for others. Provide suggestions, share insights, and discuss approaches without doing the work for them or showing your work to them.

  3. Be Mindful of Collaboration Tools:

    • If using collaboration tools like version control systems or shared documents, make sure that contributions are clear and well-documented. Clearly delineate individual contributions to avoid confusion.

  4. Refer to Resources:

    • Direct your peers to relevant textbooks, online resources, or documentation. Learning to find and use resources is an essential skill, and guiding them toward these materials can be immensely helpful both in the moment and your career.

  5. Ask Probing Questions:

    • Instead of providing direct answers, ask questions that guide your peers to think critically about the problem. This helps them develop problem-solving skills.

  6. Promote Honesty:

    • Encourage your peers to take pride in their work and to be honest about the level of help they received. Acknowledging assistance is a key aspect of academic integrity.

Remember, the goal is to create an environment where you can learn from each other (after all, we are better together) while we develop our individual skills and understanding of the subject matter.