[elliekelly]

This is awesome! Are you familiar with the plus/equals/minus learning concept? Unfortunately I can't recall the exact term used when I first read about it and google isn't helping. It basically says the most effective way to master a subject is to have a:

"Plus" - someone who knows more about the subject than you, has more experience than you, can act as a mentor and resource for you and answer questions.

"Equal" - a study buddy at about the same level as you to work through problems together and challenge each other to make sure you both understand the material. This is the person you go to when you initially don't understand something and you try to figure it out together. If you're both stumped after you're spent some time with the issue that's when it's time to ask the "Plus."

"Minus" - Someone who doesn't have as much experience or subject matter knowledge as you do. You act as a mentor/resource for this person answering questions and explaining concepts. This in turn helps to solidify your understanding of the material.

I've long thought it would be beneficial to incorporate this concept into online learning and your platform looks like it has all of the information to make it happen. In addition to study buddy recommendations would you consider adding the ability to pair people currently taking the class with people who have completed the class who are willing to be a resource? I would guess the "Equal" is the most important component and your system tackles that but there might be significant value to users in adding the Plus/Minus as well.

[johnnyodonnell]

I have not heard of this concept, but I think that's a great model for learning!

Our algorithm favors matches for people that are both currently taking a course - so you are correct in that the "Equal" is the most important component that our system tackles. However, it also does suggest matches for people that are in different stages of the course. It might make a suggestion for someone who is taking a course with someone who has completed it - and vice versa.

In the future, I've thought about adding a Q&A component to the site. And I think that would that could help with the "Plus/Minus" aspect of learning.

Maybe it might also be helpful to have a feature where you could ask to have the algorithm favor "Plus/Minus" matches?

[nerdponx]

I almost feel like that's out of scope for your project. The "plus/minus" dynamic plays out organically on places like IRC, Stackoverflow, etc. Whereas finding an equal is somewhat harder.

[johnnyodonnell]

That might be true. I think it might be bordering out of scope for the "Find Study Buddies" feature, but I've thought about potentially adding a Q&A feature to the site in the future, which might be more in scope with the site in general and also address the "Plus/Minus" component.

[m12k]

This sounds related to the 'See One, Do one, Teach One' learning concept from medicine, which also sounds like it works very well.

[osrec]

What a great concept! I had not heard of it before, but thinking back to my university days, I seem to have had people in the plus, equal and minus categories around me, and they played a big part in helping me get through my degree. I like to think I was the plus/equal/minus for someone else!

[clairity]

this is also how i imagine villiages and tribes passed down knowledge, traditions and stories. small children learn from older children, who learn from young adults, who learn from older adults, who learn from the elders.