Honest Review of Course Hero Benefits, Features, And Costs

Gradehacker
16 Aug 202107:41

TLDRCourse Hero is a resource-sharing platform for college students, offering document sharing, 24/7 expert tutor assistance, and textbook solutions. It operates on an unlock point system, where users can access materials by posting content, reading submissions, or subscribing. While free access is possible, a paid subscription offers more convenience with benefits like unlimited document access and homework help. The platform aims to support students rather than promote plagiarism, encouraging the use of shared materials for inspiration and guidance. Subscription plans range from $9.99 to $39.99 per month, depending on the duration. Course Hero's ease of use and affordability make it a potential educational investment, but users should be mindful of plagiarism risks.

Takeaways

  • 🎓 **Course Hero Overview**: Course Hero is a platform for sharing academic resources like papers, assignments, and lab reports.
  • 📚 **Document Sharing**: Users can view and learn from documents posted by others who have taken the same classes, which may include essays and lab reports.
  • 🚫 **Anti-Plagiarism Stance**: Course Hero aims to discourage plagiarism and instead encourages students to use shared work for inspiration and guidance.
  • ⏰ **24/7 Tutor Assistance**: Provides quick responses (less than 15 minutes) to specific academic questions from expert tutors.
  • 📘 **Textbook Solutions**: Offers solutions and explanations for textbook questions, a feature that is still growing in the platform's catalog.
  • 🔓 **Unlock Points System**: Access to features is granted through an unlock points system, which can be earned by posting content, reading submissions, or through a paid subscription.
  • 💸 **Cost of Service**: Course Hero offers a free tier with unlock points but also has a paid subscription for more convenience and additional benefits.
  • 📈 **Subscription Benefits**: Paid subscribers get 24/7 homework help, access to 30 documents per month, and unlimited access to textbook solutions.
  • 💵 **Pricing Options**: Subscriptions are available on a monthly ($39.99), quarterly ($19.95), or annual ($9.99 per month) basis.
  • 🤔 **Suitability for Users**: Course Hero may be a good fit for students who need regular access to study resources and are comfortable with the platform's interface.
  • 📝 **Plagiarism Risk**: There's a risk of plagiarism if users copy content directly from Course Hero, which could be detected by academic plagiarism checkers.
  • 🤝 **Alternative Platforms**: While similar to Scribd and Quizlet, Course Hero has distinct features and focuses more on college-related content.

Q & A

  • What is Course Hero?

    -Course Hero is a resource sharing platform where students can post and access various study materials, including college papers, assignments, lab reports, and discussions.

  • What are the three main features of Course Hero?

    -The three main features of Course Hero are Document Sharing, 24/7 Expert Tutor Assistance, and Textbook Solutions Options.

  • How does Course Hero's Document Sharing feature work?

    -Course Hero's Document Sharing feature allows users to see posts from other students who have taken the same classes, including essays, lab reports, and other written work. The idea is to use these documents for inspiration and guidance, not for plagiarism.

  • What is the 24/7 Expert Tutor Assistance feature?

    -The 24/7 Expert Tutor Assistance feature allows users to ask specific questions about a subject to expert tutors and receive fast responses, typically within 15 minutes via email.

  • What is the Textbook Solutions Options feature?

    -The Textbook Solutions Options feature provides solutions and explanations for different textbook questions and activities, though the catalog is still growing.

  • How can users gain unlock points on Course Hero?

    -Users can gain unlock points by posting their own content, reading other people's submissions, or getting a paid subscription. Unlock points are used to read and download complete documents and access other features on the site.

  • What are the costs associated with a Course Hero subscription?

    -The costs for Course Hero subscriptions vary: $39.99 per month for a monthly plan, $19.95 per month for a quarterly plan, and $9.99 per month for an annual plan.

  • How does Course Hero compare to other educational platforms like Scribd and Quizlet?

    -Course Hero is similar to Scribd and Quizlet in that they all offer document sharing. However, Scribd is not specifically for college content, and Quizlet focuses on user-created guides and memory games. They complement each other but have different strengths.

  • What are some potential downsides of using Course Hero?

    -Potential downsides include the tedious process of gaining unlock points for free users and the risk of plagiarism if users copy content word for word. Additionally, the free membership may not be convenient for students who need constant access to resources.

  • What is the final verdict on Course Hero?

    -The review suggests that while the free membership is not the most convenient, the paid subscription options are affordable and can be a good investment in education. It's important for students to analyze their needs and decide if Course Hero is the right fit for them.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Navigating College with Course Hero: A Comprehensive Guide

Obtaining a degree is rewarding but challenging, especially without clear guidance from professors. Many students share this struggle and can provide significant help. This video introduces Course Hero, a resource-sharing platform designed to assist college students. Gradehacker reviewed Course Hero to determine its suitability for students. Course Hero allows users to access study materials through an unlock system. The platform offers three main features: Document Sharing, 24/7 Expert Tutor Assistance, and Textbook Solutions. Document Sharing enables access to various written works, while Tutor Assistance provides fast responses to subject-specific questions. The new Textbook Solutions feature offers explanations for textbook questions. Users can gain unlock points by posting content, reading submissions, or subscribing. The video explains the costs associated with Course Hero's subscription options and emphasizes the importance of deciding whether Course Hero is a valuable resource based on individual needs.

05:02

🔍 Comparing Course Hero with Similar Platforms

Course Hero is user-friendly, even for those not tech-savvy. While the free subscription's features are cumbersome, the paid options are affordable and beneficial for improving grades. The video compares Course Hero with similar platforms like Scribd and Quizlet. Quizlet allows students to share self-created resources, while Scribd, though similar, is not exclusively for college content. The final verdict addresses the limitations of Course Hero's free membership and the importance of avoiding plagiarism. The video advises considering other options if Course Hero doesn't meet specific needs and highlights the potential consequences of copying content directly. The review aims to help viewers make informed decisions about using Course Hero.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Course Hero

Course Hero is a resource-sharing platform designed for college students to access various academic materials. It allows students to post and share papers, assignments, labs, and more. The platform is central to the video's theme as it discusses the benefits, features, and costs associated with using Course Hero. An example from the script is its document sharing feature, where users can view posts from others who have taken the same classes, including essays and lab reports.

💡Document Sharing

Document Sharing is a key feature of Course Hero that enables students to access a wide range of academic documents posted by other users. This includes essays, lab reports, and other written works, which can be a valuable resource for students seeking study materials. The script emphasizes the importance of this feature by explaining how it can help students who are struggling with their coursework, as it provides a platform for students to share and gain insights from each other's work.

💡Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the act of using someone else's work or ideas without giving proper credit, which is a serious academic offense. The script addresses concerns that Course Hero might encourage plagiarism by allowing students to access others' work. However, it clarifies that the platform's intention is to facilitate learning and collaboration, not to promote cheating. The video encourages students to use the shared documents for inspiration and guidance rather than copying content directly.

💡Expert Tutor Assistance

Expert Tutor Assistance is another feature highlighted in the video, which provides students with the opportunity to ask questions to expert tutors on specific subjects. The response time is fast, with answers provided within 15 minutes via email. This feature is significant as it offers students immediate help when they are stuck on a particular topic, enhancing their learning experience and contributing to the platform's educational value.

💡Textbook Solutions

Textbook Solutions is a feature that offers students solutions or explanations for textbook questions and activities. This new addition to Course Hero's platform is particularly helpful for students who need assistance with their coursework. The script mentions this feature as a valuable resource, suggesting that it can provide step-by-step guidance for understanding complex textbook content.

💡Unlock Points

Unlock Points are a system within Course Hero that allows users to access and download complete archives and use other features on the site. Users can earn these points by posting their own content, reading others' submissions, or through a paid subscription. The concept is integral to the platform's operation, as it incentivizes user participation and content sharing, which in turn enriches the available resources for all users.

💡Subscription

A Subscription on Course Hero refers to a paid membership that offers enhanced benefits over the free features. These benefits include 24/7 homework help, access to a vast library of study resources, and unlimited textbook solutions. The script discusses different subscription plans, such as monthly, quarterly, and annual options, each with varying costs, providing students with flexibility based on their needs and budget.

💡Cost

Cost is a critical factor for students considering using Course Hero. The video outlines the different subscription costs associated with the platform, such as $39.99 per month for a monthly plan, $19.95 for a quarterly plan, and $9.99 per month for an annual plan. Understanding the cost is essential for students to make an informed decision about whether the benefits of a subscription outweigh the expense.

💡Educational Platforms

Educational Platforms, like Course Hero, are digital tools designed to support learning and academic success. The video script compares Course Hero with other platforms such as Scribd and Quizlet, highlighting the differences in content quality and usage. It emphasizes the importance of finding a platform that fits an individual's needs and contributes positively to their educational journey.

💡Plagiarism Checkers

Plagiarism Checkers are software tools used by educational institutions to detect instances of plagiarism in students' work. The script warns that if students copy content directly from Course Hero, it could be flagged by such checkers like Turn It In, leading to academic consequences. This underscores the importance of using Course Hero and similar platforms responsibly, for inspiration and guidance, rather than as a means to cheat.

💡College Disruptor Community

The College Disruptor Community is a term used in the script to refer to the audience or group of individuals who are interested in innovative and disruptive approaches to education. The video encourages viewers to subscribe, share, and like the video to be part of this community, indicating a collective interest in exploring and utilizing resources like Course Hero to enhance the college experience.

Highlights

Course Hero is a resource sharing platform for college students.

Students can access study materials through an unlock system.

Document Sharing allows viewing of posts from other students.

Course Hero aims to support students rather than encourage plagiarism.

24/7 expert Tutor Assistance provides quick answers to academic questions.

Textbook Solutions Options offers explanations for textbook questions.

Unlock points can be earned by posting content, reading submissions, or subscribing.

Free features of Course Hero require patience and time investment.

Paid subscription offers advanced benefits like unlimited document access.

Subscription pricing varies with monthly, quarterly, and annual options.

Monthly subscription costs $39.99, quarterly $19.95, and annual $9.99 per month.

Course Hero should be evaluated based on its usefulness for individual needs.

The platform is user-friendly even for non-technology experts.

Paid subscriptions are affordable and can be seen as an educational investment.

Scribd and Quizlet have similarities but differ in content quality and usage.

Course Hero's free membership is not the most convenient for time-pressed students.

Copying content from Course Hero can lead to plagiarism issues.

Alternative options should be considered if Course Hero doesn't meet needs.

The review aims to help make an informed decision about using Course Hero.