Proposal: Mathematics Learning, Studying, and Education
So, what should be the policy on "do my homework for me" type questions? Will this forum reject all math-content questions, to concentrate on math-teaching and math-learning questions?
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1Don't all other SE sites have a mechanism for migrating questions? Why should this be any different here? Any question that obviously belongs on Math.SE should just be tagged for migration.– Geoff PointerFeb 13, 2014 at 0:08
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"Do my homework" type questions are completely off-topic here, AFAICS...– vonbrandMar 3, 2014 at 14:18
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We now have MathCh.SE, take it or leave it.– MisterGeekySep 8, 2018 at 19:31
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3 Answers
Questions about mathematics are already handled by the Mathematics and MathOverflow Stack Exchange sites. I believe that "do my homework for me" questions do not belong to this proposed mathematics education site.
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1Oops, I just learned that you lose reputation if your questions are downvoted. If you're concerned with your reputation, then it's probably not a good idea to post intentionally bad questions.– JRNJan 24, 2014 at 15:29
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As long as you don't dip below 150 (ability to vote to close, ability to downvote) there shouldn't be a problem. I don't think the higher tiers are profoundly useful.– mmeJan 24, 2014 at 15:38
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1The two comments above refer to an earlier version of the answer which had the text "I've already used my quota of five questions. Could someone please post a question that is obviously homework so that the community can vote on whether or not homework questions are on topic for this site?"– JRNJan 24, 2014 at 15:48
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3Homework questions are explicitly off-topic at MathOverflow. (I apologize if my answer implied otherwise.)– JRNJan 24, 2014 at 16:23
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@JoelReyesNoche I think that intentionally bad questions can be conducive to discussion. You can just delete them later on when things are settled and get your rep back. Feb 1, 2014 at 21:40
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@Mike Once you gain an ability you cannot lose it. Once you are able to vote to close then you can always vote to close.– user1729Feb 20, 2014 at 9:47
I don't think this SE should cover the material being learned, but rather the process of learning itself. In that light, I don't think homework questions should be on-topic - rather, (precise, well-posed) questions about the value of homework in teaching might be, or whether homework should be individual or group based in a proof-based undergraduate class.
Math.SE will remain the best place to ask such questions on the SE network.
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1Very nicely put. Requests for answers to homework questions are off-topic; questions about homework are on-topic.– JRNJan 24, 2014 at 16:16
There are mathematics education courses (and programs and degrees...), so it is conceivable that this site could get on-topic questions which are homework questions in that field.
My guess though is that the phenomenon that exists on math.SE -- namely "This question is not identified as a homework question, but a qualified observer would believe that it is overwhelmingly likely that the OP is asking it in the context of homework [not necessarily graded or done for a course; a better term might be "exercise"], and treating the question as deserving an answer rather than an explanation, hint or teaching request is probably ruining its value to the OP" -- may not be as prevalent for math education questions. In other words, something could be someone's homework question but also be a "real question", i.e., something of interest to practitioners in the field.
But it seems reasonable to reject questions that have only math content and no math education content: there are already two other popular sites for math content questions. Right? Presumably questions with both math content and math education content should be on-topic at either site. Which site would be preferable sounds like an issue that is best addressed organically once/if the site actually exists...
