SRL Archive - Discussions and Debates

Hello,

First, I'd like to tell a little story about myself. Basically, about how I got interested in coding. After asking NKN if he could make a script for me on sythe, I asked if he was interested in tutoring me. He nicely agreed and was going to do it for free, which was very nice of his part, but I still insisted on paying him 20m per hour. I fail to find the words to describe how valuable this help was in getting me started. In a way, I would compare it to teaching me the alphabet before I try to learn a new language. If I remember correctly, it only took 3 hours for me to start understanding enough to be able to really understand the tutorials and learn from them. In other words, I saved so many hours. I'd like other people to have the same chance I had as I don't think I'd be a SRL member if it wasn't of these tutoring sessions (not that I'm a particularly good scripter, I must add).

I'm saying all this because I'd like to see some tutoring service put in place. It wouldn't necessarily be directed to complete newbies like I was, but to people showing maturity and a work ethic (that, by itself, is a subject to talk about). Actually, I'm sure that there are already plenty of people helping over skypes and that help is invaluable to many people, but it might be helpful to have a more solid and rewarding structure. Even though I'm sure some people would be more than willing to do it for free, I'm ready to pay people that would be interested in tutoring. To be frank, I don't have the time, the knowledge nor the patience to do this kind of helping and I'd see this role as my contribution. I have in mind paying tutors for 10 or 20m per hour depending on the popularity of this idea and the willingless of people to help. If a tutor decides to, this money could be returned to the community in the form of a competition of his choice. The ideas are endless. Of course, the number of paid hours per week would be limited.

The purpose of this thread is basically to launch the idea, discuss of a structure and, hopefully, recruit tutors.

Let me know what you think.

[noparse]#srl[/noparse] and [noparse]#srl-school[/noparse].

[noparse]#Sirenia[/noparse]

The idea is more than just going to IRC chat and asking questions though. Like I mentioned, there is already plenty of helping going on and this idea isn't meant to replace or deny what is being done. It's simply to offer another kind of forum for this helping to go on.

As much as the help in the irc channel has been quite useful to me, I wouldn't compare it to one-on-one tutoring. Often, someone will only get the answer without a proper explanation of what went wrong (assuming he gets an answer at all, I got some very random answers at times). If you prefer, I think you'll agree that there is a world of difference in the process of learning between "use SplitTPA" and a thorough explanation of what SplitTPA does compared to other similar functions and letting the person decide which function to use. I hope you'll agree that IRC simply isn't the appropriate forum for this.

If anything, a simple thread titled "Apply to get tutored" in the public section would surely publicize the offered help and, I assume, increase the demand. In other words, a structure could encourage tutoring. I also believe that the idea of rewarding helping hands isn't such an awful idea. If a particular tutor is uncomfortable with it, he can just give it back to the community.

From: Wardancer
The idea is more than just going to IRC chat and asking questions though. Like I mentioned, there is already plenty of helping going on and this idea isn't meant to replace or deny what is being done. It's simply to offer another kind of forum for this helping to go on.

As much as the help in the irc channel has been quite useful to me, I wouldn't compare it to one-on-one tutoring. Often, someone will only get the answer without a proper explanation of what went wrong (assuming he gets an answer at all, I got some very random answers at times). If you prefer, I think you'll agree that there is a world of difference in the process of learning between "use SplitTPA" and a thorough explanation of what SplitTPA does compared to other similar functions and letting the person decide which function to use. I hope you'll agree that IRC simply isn't the appropriate forum for this.

If anything, a simple thread titled "Apply to get tutored" in the public section would surely publicize the offered help and, I assume, increase the demand. In other words, a structure could encourage tutoring. I also believe that the idea of rewarding helping hands isn't such an awful idea. If a particular tutor is uncomfortable with it, he can just give it back to the community.

Yes but, we can't one on one every single person that ever wants to learn. Also lot of people would giveup meaning your time is wasted.
I don't see the need for tutoring as such however I could see how having a mentor (so they could explain things, maybe point to tuts etc).
Funny thing is I had a pm asking me to mentor.I wanted to help and basically listed a few tuts to check out and said that whenever they get stuck or want something to be explained to pm me / add my skype.

From: The Killer
Yes but, we can't one on one every single person that ever wants to learn. Also lot of people would giveup meaning your time is wasted.
I don't see the need for tutoring as such however I could see how having a mentor (so they could explain things, maybe point to tuts etc).
Funny thing is I had a pm asking me to mentor.I wanted to help and basically listed a few tuts to check out and said that whenever they get stuck or want something to be explained to pm me / add my skype.

Hmm, I understand your point, which is why some weeding out would be needed. A possible solution to filter the applicants would be their activity on the forums. With guidelines like 100+ posts minimum and 2 months of activity, I'm sure we wouldn't be overwhelmed with demands from people that just create an account to ask for help and then disappear.

As for the idea of mentors, I really like and encourage it, but I see it as a complimentary. It really doesn't offer the same kind of help. That being said, once again, some kind of structure would certainly help to pair mentors with students.

From: The Killer
Yes but, we can't one on one every single person that ever wants to learn. Also lot of people would giveup meaning your time is wasted.
I don't see the need for tutoring as such however I could see how having a mentor (so they could explain things, maybe point to tuts etc).
Funny thing is I had a pm asking me to mentor.I wanted to help and basically listed a few tuts to check out and said that whenever they get stuck or want something to be explained to pm me / add my skype.

Yeah I've taught loads of people that have reached out to me via PM.

I would also be interested in this service but more for Java than pascal script (I would also be game for pascal script, I have rsgp that really lets be honest sits there doing nothing) there is a point where you figure money making is pointless.

From: Wardancer
As much as the help in the irc channel has been quite useful to me, I wouldn't compare it to one-on-one tutoring. Often, someone will only get the answer without a proper explanation of what went wrong (assuming he gets an answer at all, I got some very random answers at times). If you prefer, I think you'll agree that there is a world of difference in the process of learning between "use SplitTPA" and a thorough explanation of what SplitTPA does compared to other similar functions and letting the person decide which function to use. I hope you'll agree that IRC simply isn't the appropriate forum for this.

Then ask for an in-depth explanation of how something works? :S I've given plenty of help to those who ask. Fact of the matter is, most people that come no IRC just want their question answered and nothing else to go along with it.

From: Wardancer
If anything, a simple thread titled "Apply to get tutored" in the public section would surely publicize the offered help and, I assume, increase the demand. In other words, a structure could encourage tutoring. I also believe that the idea of rewarding helping hands isn't such an awful idea. If a particular tutor is uncomfortable with it, he can just give it back to the community.

Did you not see the [noparse]#SRL-School[/noparse] thread I linked above?

From: Daniel

Did you not see the [noparse]#SRL-School[/noparse] thread I linked above?

The last post was over 6 months ago… It'd certainly benefit from some bumping, but I ignore if the people that started it are still willing to work on this project. That being said, there is nothing wrong with recycling/revitalizing old ideas.

I just went to the IRC channel you mentioned and, even though there are four persons there, no one answered the question "Is anyone here?" in 30 minutes. I hope you get my point.

Finally, I'd like to stress on the fact that this thread isn't meant to belittle the help that is already being done. It only aims to encourage it. I see it as a non argument when someone says "but I do help". I already know that there is tons of helping going on and I find it invaluable, but this thread isn't about that. In other words, this thread isn't focused on what is being done but what we could do better. It is in no way an attack to what is being done. It only means to add.

To go back, one last time, about why the IRC live chat isn't the appropriate forum for this kind of help (tutoring), I'd like to say that it's very difficult to have a thorough exchange when you have to explain something complicated at the same time as two members are having a cat caption contest and spamming links left and right.

I remember years ago, I would do a MSN group step by step tutorial session… It was successful and quite fun. Although I did it for free and I had lots of time, since I was in highschool.

From: Wardancer
I just went to the IRC channel you mentioned and, even though there are four persons there, no one answered the question "Is anyone here?" in 30 minutes. I hope you get my point.

Because it isn't a channel to ask any questions in. It is for planned lessons, whether they be one-on-one or group. [noparse]#srl[/noparse] is the place to go to ask for scripting help and suggestions.

From: Wardancer
To go back, one last time, about why the IRC live chat isn't the appropriate forum for this kind of help (tutoring), I'd like to say that it's very difficult to have a thorough exchange when you have to explain something complicated at the same time as two members are having a cat caption contest and spamming links left and right.

I have never come across that problem. But, if you find other communication going on annoying and disruptive, you can always opt for a private messaging discussion with the person that is helping you.

I'm willing to help anyone thats willing to learn (not just have me solve one particular problem for them and send the code via PM),

I would imagine teamviewer/skype is the best way for something like this, because for example, learning TPA and ATPA is quite a challenge, and if you are teaching someone how to do it, its really really hard without verbal communication or better yet, showing them what to do (teamviewer), if someone could of showed me via teamviewer how to use CTS2 and ATPA functions and practical uses, I think picking it up would have been far quicker and easier, it can take literally hours to explain via text how to fully use some functions and where they can/should be used

Maybe we could do a YouTube video series on how to do certain things, SPS, ATPA, UpText, etc, I always wanted to do this but I'm quite shy and nerves cause me to make alot of mistakes / lose my train of thought

From: DannyRS
I'm willing to help anyone thats willing to learn (not just have me solve one particular problem for them and send the code via PM),

I would imagine teamviewer/skype is the best way for something like this, because for example, learning TPA and ATPA is quite a challenge, and if you are teaching someone how to do it, its really really hard without verbal communication or better yet, showing them what to do (teamviewer), if someone could of showed me via teamviewer how to use CTS2 and ATPA functions and practical uses, I think picking it up would have been far quicker and easier, it can take literally hours to explain via text how to fully use some functions and where they can/should be used

Maybe we could do a YouTube video series on how to do certain things, SPS, ATPA, UpText, etc, I always wanted to do this but I'm quite shy and nerves cause me to make alot of mistakes / lose my train of thought

Write your guide, let Yohojo be the voice! He's good at it :p

From: Sjoekeloe
Write your guide, let Yohojo be the voice! He's good at it :p

Would be a good idea, never thought of that, but I think it goes best if the person making the vid is explaining as they go along, because otherwise its very hard to keep it all in sync,

I really want to write a tutorial for something, share some experiences/tips and tricks etc, any suggestions on what to start with? Obviously something I can actually do :p, Probably start as a written guide then maybe I can sum up the courage to record myself sometime

From: Sjoekeloe
Write your guide, let Yohojo be the voice! He's good at it :p

Yeah hes even lost the cough now :')
But yeah, everyone put pressure on yohojo to expand his youtube channel ;)

From: DannyRS
Would be a good idea, never thought of that, but I think it goes best if the person making the vid is explaining as they go along, because otherwise its very hard to keep it all in sync,

I really want to write a tutorial for something, share some experiences/tips and tricks etc, any suggestions on what to start with? Obviously something I can actually do :p, Probably start as a written guide then maybe I can sum up the courage to record myself sometime

Think TPA, ATPA's video would benefit. It's more advanced, but u could show what it can do. (all the plugin functions etc..)
And which functions are better to use at certain circumstances

From: Sjoekeloe
Think TPA, ATPA's video would benefit. It's more advanced, but u could show what it can do. (all the plugin functions etc..)
And which functions are better to use at certain circumstances

I'll start putting things on paper (metaphorical paper) when i have time, I know theres plenty of guides how to use them, but I noticed lack of examples of practical uses within the game for them, so maybe I could bring something more to it

From: DannyRS
I'll start putting things on paper (metaphorical paper) when i have time, I know theres plenty of guides how to use them, but I noticed lack of examples of practical uses within the game for them, so maybe I could bring something more to it

Yeah exactly, I read through a bunch of tpa tutorials, and to me they are mostly theory.

From: Sjoekeloe
Yeah exactly, I read through a bunch of tpa tutorials, and to me they are mostly theory.

Proof skim/read for meh? Idk if I fully understand myself, may have got some stuff wrong?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mkzqfy8cjjqxbho/TPA%20and%20ATPA%20Guide.txt

From: DannyRS
Proof skim/read for meh? Idk if I fully understand myself, may have got some stuff wrong?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mkzqfy8cjjqxbho/TPA%20and%20ATPA%20Guide.txt

Anywhere I could paste it so the simba tags work?
Nevermind! got it, gonna read it now

From: Sjoekeloe
Anywhere I could paste it so the simba tags work?
Nevermind! got it, gonna read it now

Does http://paste.villavu.com/ work? i haven't really formatted it well yet

From: DannyRS
Does http://paste.villavu.com/ work? i haven't really formatted it well yet

I'm reading it at Preview post :)

From: Sjoekeloe
I'm reading it at Preview post :)

Don't want to post before I verify my explanations are correct :p

From: DannyRS
Don't want to post before I verify my explanations are correct :p

Don't worry not posting, just reading it there, cause it shows simba tags and pictures!
EDIT: half way through now, sorry doing other stuff too lol , i'll try and focus on one thing.

From: Sjoekeloe
Don't worry not posting, just reading it there, cause it shows simba tags and pictures!
EDIT: half way through now, sorry doing other stuff too lol , i'll try and focus on one thing.

no rush, I mean I didn't want to post in tutorials till someone briefly checked it