Points Based on Session Length
Sawyer V
Currently, you get 10 SP every time you host a session, whether it's five minutes long or five hours long. I feel that the number of points you earn should be based on the length of the session. Getting 10 SP for every session encourages tutors to host several short sessions rather than long, in-depth ones, but long sessions are often the most beneficial for learners. To think of it another way, if one tutor hosted 10 five minute sessions, and another tutor hosted 10 five hour sessions, the two tutors would be exactly the same in the eyes of the point system. This doesn't make sense, since the second tutor has devoted more time to Schoolhouse and should be given points accordingly.
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James O'Brien
Hey Sawyer, thanks for this feedback. Our SP system is designed to encourage all types of tutoring; from shorter, targeted sessions around very specific topics to longer sessions that are more comprehensive. This gives tutors flexibility to host sessions that reflect the time they can commit to SHW while also ensuring a breadth of session types of SHW.
We also don't currently have data that validates that longer sessions lead to better outcomes for tutors. All of that to say, while we're not currently looking to iterate on our SP system it's definitely a possibility in the future. Also the minimum session duration someone can set their session to is 20 minutes currently so hopefully no one is doing 5 minute sessions lol!
Sawyer V
Thank you, that makes sense, but suppose a learner really required a detailed explanation of a subject and a long session (say, 2.5 hours) was absolutely necessary (if the session was shorter, the learner would simply request help again). Suppose a tutor led two of such sessions in a day, requiring a significant amount of commitment and skill to help the learner over a long period. On the other hand, another tutor leads three 20 minute sessions in that day, sessions that answer a quick question that the learner already mostly has the conceptual basis for. At the end of the day, the point system would indicate that the second tutor was more experienced, and, perhaps, "better." I don't quite feel this is fair, and I think it can and has discouraged tutors from leading sessions that are, as a matter of necessity, long.