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From: mrbunny@mail.zynet.co.uk
Subject: Re: STUDENTS GO AWAY!!!!!!!??????
Date: 1997/04/26
Message-ID: <33625f26.4285511@news>#1/1
X-Deja-AN: 237751684
References: <335bdd1b.5485893@news> <dewar.861678652@merv>
 <5js5i6$ac8@huron.eel.ufl.edu>
Organization: Zynet Ltd
Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada
Date: 1997-04-26T00:00:00+00:00
List-Id: <comp.lang.ada>


Daniel P Hudson wrote:


>And your "studentism," is no different.

Guys! Please don't dig trenches, otherwise we will all be losers.


--An attempt to put the problem in perspective.--

If all computer students studying ada used newsgroups
for all their assignment questions the probility of them 
posting messages would be 100%

However few if any students will study Ada exclusively, 
course work is likely to include maths, other languages,
system analysis, applications, business studies, etc., 
bringing the probability of an assignment qustion being 
Ada related down to maybe 25%

Not all of a students time is spent on assignments, there
are lectures, tutorials, revision weeks, exams, inductions,
demonstrations, etc., maybe only 50% of effort is spent on
assignments, reducing the likely hood of an assingment 
question arising down to 12.5%

Of the assignment questions, not all will cause the student 
a problem. He/she will answer many of the questions from what
they have learnt. Maybe only 50% of the the assignment causes 
them a problem, reducing the probability of them needing 
assistance down to 6.25%

Of these students how many have the knowledge, equipment 
and facilities to access the newsgroup at a time when 
the help is required. Maybe only 50%. The probability 
of them posting to the newsgroup reduces to 3.125%

Of these students, how many know of the Ada newsgroup, 
again maybe only 50%, the probability of needing 
assistance is now down to 1.56%

Of these students how many would use the Ada newsgroup as a 
source of information instead of text books, tutors, class
discussions, course notes, online tutorials even. Maybe 25%?
The probability of them using the newsgroup is now .39%

If the international student population studying Ada is 
100,000 then the .39% of students wishing to post to usenet
amounts to 390 students. 

A student is at college for around 30 weeks of the year giving 210 
days in which to post to the newsgroup. This means that an average
of 1.86 postings a day will be received from students. And this 
only during term time.

I know this is a crude simulation but it does give some "shape" 
to the problem.

Mark.