GradeGuru
| File:GG small logo with slogan 180w.png | |
| Company type | Public (NYSE: MHP) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | New York City (2007) |
| Headquarters | New York City |
Area served | US, UK |
Key people | Emily Sawtell |
| Website | [1] |
GradeGuru.com, a McGraw-Hill Education start-up, is a free knowledge sharing network where college students can share and find class-specific study materials, learn collaboratively and build their academic reputations to earn rewards, internships and career opportunities.
GradeGuru’s university and class specific communities provide a relevant and intuitive social learning environment for thousands of students from over 300 universities.
Content on GradeGuru is shared by students from various disciplines. GradeGuru rewards students who share their notes with points and Status Badges. The better a students rating, the more their status grows within the community. The more views each file shared by a student receives the more points a student earns of which can be traded in for rewards in the GradeGuru rewards store.
Students can also search for study materials shared by a fellow classmate to help them improve their understanding of classroom concepts, offer them the opportunity to see a variety of study methods and work out what's right for them.
History
GradeGuru was started in Great Britain in August 2007, as a study tool offered by the McGraw-Hill Companies. The concept was based on the findings of extensive research{|date=October 2009}}, conducted using methods of ethnography, into how students study. The site was launched in the United States in June 2008.
Disciplines Covered
Architecture, business and management, chemistry and physics, computer science, culture, gender & sexuality, earth sciences, education, engineering, history, journalism, media & communications, languages & linguistics , law, library & museum studies, life sciences, literature, mathematics, medicine and health sciences, other sciences, philosophy, psychology, public affairs & administration, religion, social sciences and services, space sciences, visual & performing arts.
Rewards
Students who upload their study materials earn points every time their files are viewed by members of the community. The more popular the notes are, and the better ratings they receive, the more points they get.[1] They can then exchange these points for rewards. Rewards include gift cards from popular vendors like Best Buy, Itunes, Starbucks and can also be used to make charitable donations.
Legitimacy of Content
Reviewing Process
Similar to many popular Web 2.0 sites, GradeGuru’s content is monitored by its users. Its members review and rate the information for the benefit of the community. The top-rated notes have a higher chance of being returned by the search engine so that students can easily access the most prominent resources.
Plagiarism Concerns
Plagiarism is a serious concern for academic institutions and for students. GradeGuru’s Community Standards are very clear on this issue, emphasizing that it should not be done under any circumstances. GradeGuru offers free advice on its web-site for students about plagiarism – what it means and how to ensure all sources are correctly referenced. In order to combat the potential for inappropriate use of the site’s content, GradeGuru is working with TurnItin, the leading anti-plagiarism detection tool.[2] GradeGuru also emphasizes that all content must be 100% student created.[3]
References
- ^ Himeles, Sara. "Note-sharing site lets students cash in on class notes". Retrieved January 20, 2009. Template:En icon
- ^ Sharon. "GradeGuru – notes sharing by students, for students". Retrieved May 9, 2008. Template:En icon
- ^ Fabel, Leah. "Growing number of Web sites offer students money for class notes". Retrieved February 5, 2009. Template:En icon