Study Curve

I'm not sure that attachments are a great idea. Here are my thoughts.

While attachments may provide an opportunity for students to collaborate on files (ie texts, presentations, spreadsheets, etc.), there are other places much better suited for this purpose, such as Google Docs. Attachments to study curve would likely have to be downloaded, modified, and re-uploaded every time someone wants to make a change/addition to the "collaborative" document. Eventually you'll have multiple copies of the same file on your server and people may download the wrong one, update it and have the changes get lost in the shuffle. Google Docs provides a real-time collaboration service with a single document (albeit with revision history).

The most likely use of an attached document on Study Curve will be for someone to download and use (or modify and use) to call their own somewhere. As Isaac mentioned, if a student wants to cheat, they will. Study Curve shouldn't make it easier for them.

Once again, my 2 cents.

Those are great points Isaac. We are working through these issues from a technical stand point. I will keep everyone updated.

I think it would be a benefit to every student on Study Curve to allow students to attach files. It would literally start a new realm of study curve. Suddenly students can share past work, send a paper of relievence, and this could be used as a storage device. Like if I was on a computer at school and needed to save something so I could accesse it from home I could attach the file on Study Curve and get on at home and work on it there as well. I wouldn't be so much worried about cheating, if a student wants to cheat, they're gonna, plain and simple. So like I said, it would be a great tool for students, and I'd say wouldn't have to many draw backs.

While I agree that legal ramifications have to be considered, I'm not sure that plagiarism and copyright infringement would be as prevalent with these types of files as they are with music and movie files. I think that being able to attach files would be of great benefit on this site. There are too many different applications where collaboration can't be achieved through just text questions and answers.

I agree that there is a great advantage in allowing the downloading of file attachments. In addition to the examples you have given, I see this as an opportunity for others to help with the revision and editing process as students collaborate on pieces of writing, a way to see how another has solved a math problem and where within the process an error was made providing an opportunity to help one another with process and provides an opportunity for the individual to see how others have solved the same, or a similar problem. Of course there are unlimited examples throughout content where this would be useful.

I can see how copyright issues and the potential for cheating could become a problem. The copyright issues are an important issue to address. I'm not sure the best way to solve this potential problem. At work we are mandated to sign a disclaimer stating we are responsible as individuals for ascertaining that we are not breaking copyright laws when we send a document to the print center for copying. Perhaps a disclaimer in the agreement for using studycurve.com would be a protection. A lawyer would have to be consulted for advise as to how to address this issue. The cheating issue is real as well, and I agree that the opportunity is there for those who would cheat, with or without studycurve.com. Overall, however, I feel that the advantages of providing collaboration opportunities far outwiegh the this threat. The more opportunities for collaboration this site can provide, the more beneficial it becomes for those who are users.

I agree with your thoughts. The dificult part in my opinion are the following:

1) Ramifications for StudyCurve due to copy right infringements, much like youtube, facebook and my space have been dealing with. There might be ways around this and would love to hear everyone's ideas. For example if someone decides to download a book to StudyCurve, then we will be dealing with the publishing companies.

2.) Cheating: Although cheating can happen anywhere at anytime via numerous outlets, I don't condone it and don't want papers being passed around for example. Again, I am anxious to hear everyone's thoughts regards to this topic. More importantly, I look forward to hearing potential solutions.

Aaron
Founder of StudyCurve.com