Question

Topic: Our Forum

Dilemma Regarding Student Assignments

Posted by Shelley Ryan on 11/25/2019 at 3:56 PM ET 1125 Points
Hi, y'all!

As you've probably noticed, we've been inundated with requests from Australian students asking for assistance with their trade show plans. For the most part, they DID do some work on their assignments, so they were not expecting the community to do the work for them.

However, I'm a bit concerned that we got so many of these postings. If word gets out, KHE might become a homework factory instead of a tagline factory (which might not be such a bad thing!).

How do you feel about this? Okay as long as the students are doing the bulk of the work? Or would you like the moderator (me) to attempt to squelch this kind of activity when it starts to snowball?

Thanks,
Shelley
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by chiron34 on 11/25/2019 at 11:49 PM Accepted
    Hi Shelley,

    I am actually based in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. I contribute regularly to KHE. I am a Mentor with Business in Bare Feet, an innovation hub for people in remote locations who do not have access to a co-working space and face-to-face mentors. I also run a capital raising consultancy. So I am used to helping people in startup mode. I personally have no objection to helping students, providing that my involvement is more in the form of a review of their work to help identify areas in their work that may need some further development or enhancement. I would never be drawn into undertaking direct work for students. Within that context, if you can develop a system of filtering that you feel can impose some limits on the material presented for review, I am happy to collaborate with you.

    We were all students once, ‘babes in the wood’ in a professional environment. So those of us who can commit a bit of time to the training and encouragement of the next generation of entrepreneurs and managers, usually don’t mind helping out.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 11/26/2019 at 7:56 AM Accepted
    Ultimately, it's up to each of us whether or not to help answer someone's question. While there were a number of askers in a short period of time, it was manageable. As you noted, most attempted to do the assignment, so I personally chose to help them. But if this forum becomes a "do-my-homework-assignment" we can always enlist your help to shut it down in the future.
  • Posted by Shelley Ryan on 11/26/2019 at 9:42 AM Author
    Thanks, Graham and Jay! For your responses, as well as your generosity toward future marketers... ッ
  • Posted by mgoodman on 11/26/2019 at 12:51 PM Accepted
    I'd let the "marketplace" self-adjust. We each have the option to respond to a question or not. When the askers show some effort to deal with the issue on their own, I think most of us are happy to offer suggestions/direction. When it's a blatant request for us to do homework we almost always explain that we don't do homework.

    Every time I respond to a question I try to remember that the response is a small sample of what a client would get if they retained me as a consultant. I'm always surprised how many clients refer to something I posted on MarketingProfs KHE, so I don't mind investing some time helping students when I can. (And if I'm too busy with other stuff I always have the option to pass on any given question.)
  • Posted by Shelley Ryan on 12/4/2019 at 3:56 PM Author
    Thanks, guys! I'll heed your advice. Feel free to raise this issue again later if necessary.

    Happy holiday season to all of our Experts. 😘
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