When is the best time to ask for help on homework?

[Simfish]

It's really a finely divided line, and varies with professor to professor, subject to subject, and friendliness to friendliness.

There's the often-mentioned 30-minute rule, where if you're stuck for 30 minutes, you should go up to the professor and ask for a pointer (which is usually not sufficient in itself to solve the problem for you). But sometimes, this rule will make you ask questions about all your homework problems, which could annoy your professor.

The one thing is that if they give you a pointer, you might get enough information to solve the problem. Or you might not. If you still don't have enough information to solve the problem, you can try and go up to the professor again. In which case you might start annoying the professor. Or you might not.

On the other hand, you could just do your own version of the solution (which may contain some things you made up - making things up can sometimes guide you to the real answer), and then come to the professor and ask, "Am I doing things right?" They might look at you silly and think "what are you doing?" Or they might alternatively think that you're asking for the solutions. Or they might actually be responsive.

 

[DrummingAtom]

It's really a finely divided line, and varies with professor to professor, subject to subject, and friendliness to friendliness.

There's the often-mentioned 30-minute rule, where if you're stuck for 30 minutes, you should go up to the professor and ask for a pointer (which is usually not sufficient in itself to solve the problem for you). But sometimes, this rule will make you ask questions about all your homework problems, which could annoy your professor.

The one thing is that if they give you a pointer, you might get enough information to solve the problem. Or you might not. If you still don't have enough information to solve the problem, you can try and go up to the professor again. In which case you might start annoying the professor. Or you might not.

On the other hand, you could just do your own version of the solution (which may contain some things you made up - making things up can sometimes guide you to the real answer), and then come to the professor and ask, "Am I doing things right?" They might look at you silly and think "what are you doing?" Or they might alternatively think that you're asking for the solutions. Or they might actually be responsive.

I can't tell if this is a serious question or not... because it seems so pretty obvious.

If you need help then go get it if you don't then don't. I think you already know this but your professor is there to help you. If the professor isn't a helpful person then find another source of learning, another professor or perhaps PhysicsForums.

I don't know what you mean by the 30 minute rule either and again if it's a joke or not. If the assignment is due the next day and you're struggling then yes helped is needed immediately. If it's due in a week, keep chugging at it and see what happens.

I hope I didn't waste 5 minutes answering this. Good luck.

 

[Simfish]

Um it is a serious question. I have annoyed professors with my questions before, and this does happen with a significant percent of professors.

For some reason, most students simply don't ask for help from professors. I'm sure they could ask for more, but there are some reasons why they don't do it.

One of the key things is this: If it's due in a week, and you start working on it immediately, then is it advisable to wait it out? (sometimes unexpected insights do happen) Or is it advisable to get help immediately?

 

[Pengwuino]

If you're annoying professors, it's certainly not from asking questions too soon. There could be other issues. Do your classes have TAs that could help you first? Have you asked fellow students? Read through the relevant portion of your text a couple of times? Are you talking to them strictly during office hours? Professors are usually the last line of defense.

It certainly is not from asking questions too soon. People like seeing students with questions early because it means they're taking the course seriously and not waiting for the last few days to even look at the assignment.

 

[Nabeshin]

If it's due in a week, and you start working on it immediately, then is it advisable to wait it out? (sometimes unexpected insights do happen)

You obviously know your own learning style better than I do, but this is how it works for me. It is very advantageous to start assignments at least two days early. It seems that problems which I find difficult or downright confounding sometimes fall right into my lap the following morning. Realistically speaking, you shouldn't spend more than a few hours on one problem in one sitting. You tend to get mentally locked into a mode of thought and are often just retracing mistakes. The precise cure for this is a good night's sleep.

Also I've never had a professor be unwilling to give homework help during their office hours. Generally speaking, there should be no need to randomly accost the professor with homework questions. Find out when the professor or TA's office hours are, make sure to have a good stab at the homework before then, and then ask your questions. If a second round of questioning is needed, the problem likely lays much deeper...

 

[Simfish]

If you're annoying professors, it's certainly not from asking questions too soon. There could be other issues. Do your classes have TAs that could help you first? Have you asked fellow students? Read through the relevant portion of your text a couple of times? Are you talking to them strictly during office hours? Professors are usually the last line of defense.

It certainly is not from asking questions too soon. People like seeing students with questions early because it means they're taking the course seriously and not waiting for the last few days to even look at the assignment.

Good points. The thing is, you've mentioned that "professors are the last line of defense". But at the same time, you've also mentioned that professors like to see students ask questions early. The issue here is that it's often difficult to find other students who work on homework assignments early (very few start right after it's assigned, and the vast majority wait until the last two days). So that just leaves me with TAs and (possibly) forums, but forums are not especially useful for upper-division questions.

You obviously know your own learning style better than I do, but this is how it works for me. It is very advantageous to start assignments at least two days early. It seems that problems which I find difficult or downright confounding sometimes fall right into my lap the following morning. Realistically speaking, you shouldn't spend more than a few hours on one problem in one sitting. You tend to get mentally locked into a mode of thought and are often just retracing mistakes. The precise cure for this is a good night's sleep.

Also I've never had a professor be unwilling to give homework help during their office hours. Generally speaking, there should be no need to randomly accost the professor with homework questions. Find out when the professor or TA's office hours are, make sure to have a good stab at the homework before then, and then ask your questions. If a second round of questioning is needed, the problem likely lays much deeper...

Also good points (especially about mental lockins). The only issue is that I sometimes do need a second round of questioning, and professor office hours are usually scattered such that I can only get one office hour session per homework assignment. I do know a few professors who are fairly generous though (they stay in their office for a long time, so they allow you to come up, then work for a few hours, and then come back in).

 

[Pengwuino]

Yes, the problem with doing your homework before your colleagues is that... well, that's it, they haven't even started. You're a good student; sometimes being a good student has problems associated with it. Your next step is TAs. If they can't help or are unavailable for whatever reason, you simply have to talk to the professors. As long as you walk in with work done and specific questions instead of the dreaded "I don't know how to do this", you should be fine. If professors get annoyed... well, that's their problem.

 

[denks]

On the other hand, you could just do your own version of the solution (which may contain some things you made up - making things up can sometimes guide you to the real answer), and then come to the professor and ask, "Am I doing things right?" They might look at you silly and think "what are you doing?" Or they might alternatively think that you're asking for the solutions. Or they might actually be responsive.

I always find this is the best approach - not only in study but also when you go out into industry. If someone is going to spend their time helping you they want to see that you are putting in at least the same amount of time yourself - nobody wants to do your work for you. If you go to them with what you have worked through so far the benefits are twofold - firstly you are more likely to receive help, secondly they may even find another place you are going wrong where you did not realize.

If you absolutely have no idea where to start then approach them with "I am having problems with this question. I have read x and y, I have approached it by doing z and still can't make headway". That way they can see that a) you have actually tried putting some effort in and b) they don't go over ground you have already looked up - so you don't waste their time.

They are far more likely to think you want them to do your work for you if you come to them with nothing than if you look as if you have at least tried.