Parents: I would like some of your perspective.

[WayOutWestMom]

<p>An instructor solutions manual is not commercially available. It’s supposed to be available ONLY to course instructors and is downloadable directly from the publisher’s website ONLY with an authorization code. An authorization code is issued to an instructor and is tied to the course’s book order thru the university’s bookstore and academic department.</p>

<p>Such authorization codes are traceable. (They’re unique to each school and sometimes to each course instructor.) In D1’s case, the textbook was new and had only started being used the semester before. The chem dept. had a pretty good idea whose code was used to download the copy being passed around, but they were unable to prove who had compromised the solutions manual- a student or one of the TAs. If a case could have been proven, someone would been expelled.</p>

<p>And copying solutions–you don’t learn anything that way. Struggling through homework on your own —that’s how you learn. DH had a prof in grad school who used to tell all his students “knowledge comes from pain.” (And then gave weekly problems sets that took 50-60 hours to finish.) </p>

<p>D1 was particularly incensed because there were egregious errors in the solutions manual–wrong units, skipped steps, answers that changed variable names between one step and the next, inequality signs that should have been equal signs, decimals in the wrong place… If a student spent 10 minutes actually considering the problem, it was clear the answer in the manual was wrong.</p>

<p>

I got the manual last week and there has been only one assignment (which is due tomorrow). I haven’t looked at the assignment until yesterday. I will delete the manual today and do the assignment. There is no way that I have cheated.

</p>

<p>Actually, simply by passing on the manual, you may have committed n honors code violation–even if you didn’t use from the manual yourself. At most school anyone voluntarily giving answers is considered equally guilty as anyone receiving answers.</p>

[Orbit196]

<p>@WayOutWestMom… your right. I looked up the policy and I did academic dishonest things by passing on that manual. I deleted the manual and will have a serious talk with my friend the instance he comes. I’m explaining to him how this has troubled me and that I have deleted the manual. I do not care what he does with it.</p>

[BCEagle91]

<br>

<p>An instructor solutions manual is not commercially available. It’s
supposed to be available ONLY to course instructors and is downloadable
directly from the publisher’s website ONLY with an authorization code.
An authorization code is issued to an instructor and is tied to the
course’s book order thru the university’s bookstore and academic
department.</p>

<p>Such authorization codes are traceable. (They’re unique to each school
and sometimes to each course instructor.) In D1’s case, the textbook
was new and had only started being used the semester before. The chem
dept. had a pretty good idea whose code was used to download the copy
being passed around, but they were unable to prove who had compromised
the solutions manual- a student or one of the TAs. If a case could
have been proven, someone would been expelled.</p>

<br>

<p>Authorization codes are relatively easy to defeat using either low-tech
or high-tech methods.</p>

<p>1) Use a digital camera to take screen shots of the document.
2) Use a screen capture program to take screen shots of the document.
3) Hack the document.</p>

<br>

<p>As for the fraternity files, the profs at D1’s university (at least in
the sciences and engineering) were well aware such existed and most
instructors usually did their best to write exam questions that were
different enough from previous exams that the files were of no help.</p>

<br>

<p>If the files were of no help, I think that their use would be
discontinued. I would think that the files would help simply by adding
to the students’ library of example solutions. This is a standard
approach in training for math competitions - learning the lore of a
field.</p>

<br>

<p>And copying solutions–you don’t learn anything that way. Struggling
through homework on your own —that’s how you learn. DH had a prof in
grad school who used to tell all his students “knowledge comes from
pain.” (And then gave weekly problems sets that took 50-60 hours to
finish.)</p>

<br>

<p>We certainly don’t take this approach in software engineering. If
someone else in the department can provide the solution, then the most
efficient way to make progress on a project is to find that person and
have them show you how to do it.</p>

<p>My son’s approach was to read the textbook (or a similar textbook)
before the course started and work out the problems. This way there
was far less material hitting him during the regular semester.</p>

[mathmom]

<p>I’ve always thought that the purpose of homework was to learn the material, not to be tested on it, but you would have to check with the professor as to what is allowed or not.</p>

[anon94785555]

<p>The bottom line is learning the material. Good grades come with knowing the material, and doing the work helps reinforce that. This is the whole reason you pay money to a college- to learn with their help instead of alone. It is good for you to not rely on the solutions in the manual but to have to figure them out for yourself, or if you have trouble to go to the TA/professor.</p>

<p>Do not spend more time dwelling on this issue- spend your time productively and not worrying any more. Always keep the goal in mind- learning as much as you can. Using a solutions manual is not likely to further this goal so it is good you dropped it. Have the conversation with your friend, then forget about it. If he chooses the lazy way instead of truly understanding how to solve the problems it is his problem, not yours.</p>

<p>Congratulations on solving this moral/ethical dilemna for yourself. A major learning event- another of those outside of the classroom ones that make up the total college experience.</p>