New test exchange

[Random Human]

New idea people could benefit from:

So, we currently have our test exchange where people upload their things and such.. The issue here is that people are hesitant to upload test because they don't know that they will really get something in exchange, and they really don't get something in exchange. Some random guy browsing through it can find the test and benefit from it without having to give something back.

Thus, I propose a new solution: Make a test exchange (forum or something) where people can post what they want and what they have and they also leave their email. Then people will email them and they can trade. T

This will benefit because I, like many others out there, are constantly on the lookout for new tests, and some have made a homemade test to test their teammates or something. People are hesitant to upload these test on the test exchange because 1. Again, they don't need to contribute anything to access the material and 2. Other teams can benefit from their test and possibly beat them. New solution would work... OR we can just have like year-round SSSS...

Please review,
Random

[EastStroudsburg13]

We are open to suggestions for test exchanges, but the site's policy has been and will continue to be that exchanges hosted by the site must result in the tests becoming publicly available on the overall test exchange page. As long as the end result is that the test is publicly available to all teams, the mechanism by which that point is reached is open to recommendations. Also, please note that while the Science Olympiad Student Center supports the free exchange of resources and ideas in the name of the exploration of science, if a tournament or test-writer has explicitly requested that their test not be publicly available, those wishes should be respected.

[sciduck]

people are hesitant to upload test because they don't know that they will really get something in exchange, and they really don't get something in exchange. Some random guy browsing through it can find the test and benefit from it without having to give something back

As long as the end result is that the test is publicly available to all teams.

What if you released them at the end of the season? This way they'll be public and available for future use if the event is still in rotation, but people can still have that reassurance that everyone who accesses the tests will contribute throughout the year but does it really matter?.

The only thing I don't understand is who uploads the invitational tests. Is it tournament directors? Because if it's coaches/students I feel like having a private exchange would discourage public uploads.

[0ddrenaline]

It's been done. Captains Tryouts. Although it's only in the beginning of the season.

[bernard]

It's been done. Captains Tryouts. Although it's only in the beginning of the season.

Captains Tryouts is run independently of Scioly.org. The exchange is only for captains of teams in the beginning of the season, and all tests are uploaded to the test exchange around the middle of the season.

[EastStroudsburg13]

What if you released them at the end of the season? This way they'll be public and available for future use if the event is still in rotation, but people can still have that reassurance that everyone who accesses the tests will contribute throughout the year.

This still defeats the overall purpose of uploading tests for this year's events. Once the year ends, this year's tests are still helpful, but not nearly to the same degree as they would have been had they been shared during the year.

The only thing I don't understand is who uploads the invitational tests. Is it tournament directors? Because if it's coaches/students I feel like having a private exchange would discourage public uploads.

Generally it's coaches and students. Very rarely (if ever) do tournament directors directly post tests to our text exchange.

[Macgyver]

why not make it cloud-based? Dropbox might work...
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/onedrive-dr ... t-for-you/

[bernard]

why not make it cloud-based? Dropbox might work...
https://www.cnet.com/how-to/onedrive-dr ... t-for-you/

Our current test exchange is stored on our servers and accessible at any time. By storing files on our own servers, we have control over how we use our space, e.g. space used for the test exchange can be reallocated for use with the image gallery, etc. It also allows better integration; currently you only need a forum account to edit/upload to the wiki or access resources with limited access such as SSSS.

We're always open to ideas so feel free to post anything that comes to mind!

[Macgyver]

I meant using Dropbox as an archive database

[Random Human]

We are open to suggestions for test exchanges, but the site's policy has been and will continue to be that exchanges hosted by the site must result in the tests becoming publicly available on the overall test exchange page. As long as the end result is that the test is publicly available to all teams, the mechanism by which that point is reached is open to recommendations. Also, please note that while the Science Olympiad Student Center supports the free exchange of resources and ideas in the name of the exploration of science, if a tournament or test-writer has explicitly requested that their test not be publicly available, those wishes should be respected.

I mean not necessarily an exchange hosted by the site, more like an open forum where people can post what they want to trade for. Then, leaving their email they can send each other emails with the tests in them. It's more of a "private" test exchange where individuals can talk it out, and they find who they talk with on a forum. There's something like this on Reddit for many other test based competitions where people leave their email and they send tests and stuff to each other. Lots of people don't want to have their test released publicly but like to access more tests to benefit themselves with. The idea is to make sure people contribute something to get something in return, and that people that don't contribute won't be allowed to take advantage of those who do.

Regards,
Random