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You said the (exact) same thing in the thread this blog post spun out from, and I didn't bother to challenge it, but I will now. You're not being fair to IRC.
by dmunoz 13y ago
You said the (exact) same thing in the thread this blog post spun out from, and I didn't bother to challenge it, but I will now.
You're not being fair to IRC. IRC can just as easily give you a one-to-one relationship with another person who cares. Private messages exist, among other means. Moreover, the experience can be completely asynchronous. You don't have to both be available to make progress.
The main benefit of something like Understudy is to mediate the introduction of users to mentors. There is something to gain from a sustained conversation with the same mentor, but Understudy can make no more guarantees about the availability of your mentor than IRC can. Furthermore, that both the mentor and the mentee have to pay $5 if they're using the app more than two hours a month demolishes the potential userbase, not to mention that you also need an iOS device. IRC is multi-platform, free, and already attracts the sort of individuals that would be capable and willing to mentor users in something like SICP.
- andymatuschak 13y ago> Moreover, the experience can be completely asynchronous. You don't have to both be available to make progress. Studying SICP (or anything) can involve different "modes": Reading and doing exercises will often be solitary. Q&A could definitely be asynchronous (IRC works great for that!). But we're talking about explaining what you've learned; only in synchronous conversation will you get the back-and-forth "wait what? How's that work?" A hard part of learning is figuring out exactly what you don't know; conversation is remarkably effective at elucidating that. Where do you feel uncomfortable while speaking? Where does your partner look especially confused or skeptical? The human connection gives you expression, body language, tone of voice, etc. in a quick feedback loop. (disclaimer: not involved in creating Understudy, but I'm a happy user!)
- dmunoz 13y ago> only in synchronous conversation will you get the back-and-forth "wait what? How's that work?" There is something to be gained from synchronous conversation, but what you've listed can be done asynchronously. In either case, my point was IRC doesn't have to always be synchronous. When you're both available, the conversation can be synchronous. I agree that there is a huge benefit from having a synchronous, spoken conversation, but my reply was contesting that "Understudy gives you is a one-to-one relationship with another person who cares" in contrast to IRC. IRC can do exactly that, so what sells Understudy is certainly something different.
- darkheartfelt 13y agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgk-lA12FBk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgk-lA12FBk