Requirements for Each Specialty Level

Last modified: Sep 28, 2017 12:37 PM
71 25562 Last modified Sep 28, 2017 12:37 PM

Note: This User Tip will no longer be maintained, as Apple Support Communities staff have now added the information in this tip to their tutorial.

You may have noticed that many users have an icon below their avatar, such as an iPhone icon or MacBook icon, with 10 dashes underneath, like this:

User uploaded file

This represents their "Specialty level," which you can learn more about by clicking here. Specialty icons can indicate a member's area of interest, and if a member has a high specialty level in a particular forum, then it shows that they likely have experience in that area.


This User Tip will focus on the requirement for each specialty level. The community hosts ask that you just use the forums as you would naturally, meaning do not post replies, click "I have this question too," and so on just for the sake of gaining a specialty level. Now, to the point, below are the requirements for each specialty level. You can see the requirement for a specialty level by clicking on someone's username, then clicking on a forum name under the "Specialties" section in the pop-out window, but I thought it would be easier if they were all collected here so you do not have to find someone for each different level.


LevelRequirements
Level 1

Bookmark a discussion

Create a new discussion on something you'd like to know about

Mark another member's discussion as "I have this question too"

Level 2

Create a new discussion

Insert an image into your discussion

Mark another member's reply as "This solved my question"

Follow a discussion

Reply to a comment on your discussion

Level 3

Your discussion is marked as "I have this question too"

Reply to another member's discussion (2x)

Another member replies to your discussion

Your reply is marked as Helpful

Level 4

Reply to another member's discussion

Your discussion is marked as "I have this question too"

Bookmark a discussion (2x)

Follow a community area

Your answer is marked as Solved for another member's discussion

Level 5

Reply to another member's discussion

Insert an image into a discussion (2x)

Follow a discussion

Your reply is marked as Helpful (3x)

Level 6

Your answer is marked as Solved for another member's question

Your reply is marked as Helpful (5x)

Level 7

Report a post (5x)

Another member replies to your discussion

Your reply is marked as Helpful (5x)

Your answer is marked as Solved for another member's question

Level 8

Reply to another member's discussion

Report a post (3x)

Your reply is marked as Helpful (5x)

Level 9

Your User Tip is liked

Your reply is marked as Helpful (5x)

Your answer is marked as Solved for another member's question (5x)

Report a post

Level 10

Your reply is marked as Helpful (5x)

Your answer is marked as Solved for another member's question (10x)

Report a post (5x)

Some other quick notes:

  • You can have multiple "specialties," but the one that displays below your avatar will be the one with the highest level; if there are two or more that are all the highest level, then the one attained most recently will be displayed
  • You may notice that different levels may have some of the same requirements. You must complete the same requirement again to advance in level, unless that requirement already has a check mark next to it
  • To view your progress on your current specialty levels, click on your username or avatar where it appears in blue at the top left of any Discussions page, or at the top of any post you make. In the pop-out window that appears, under the "Specialties" header, click on a forum name to see your progress for that forum's specialty level
  • No specialty icon will appear below your avatar until you complete at least one of the Level 1 requirements for a particular forum. One of the gray dashes will turn blue once you complete Level 1, and then one more dash will turn blue for each additional level you attain
  • Reporting a post requires a Level 2 or higher reputation level, which is different from your specialty level. Likewise, creating a User Tip requires a Level 5 or higher reputation level

Comments

Mar 26, 2016 1:55 PM

Great compilation!!! Did you notice (at each (higher) level) if/how many of each "task" are required? It'd be good to include that info if it is more than one once it becomes known.

Mar 26, 2016 1:55 PM

Mar 26, 2016 2:24 PM

I have done a little searching at Jive for "specialty levels"... must have different nomenclature there as there are no relevant results. It would be neat to know how AppleJiveWare compares to PlainOleJiveWare for this feature 😉


"Leaderboards" is a different story > Gamification Leaderboards | Jive Community - seems a pretty stock implementation with customized display/graphical characteristics


I am guessing that the tallies are "specialty level" accumulations, but no way to confirm or deny without the naming convention correlated

User uploaded file<= Jive doc .::. User uploaded file <= "Using iPad"

Mar 26, 2016 2:24 PM

Mar 26, 2016 2:59 PM

Yes, there is only 1x for the levels we've seen. We'll see about the rest of them.

Mar 26, 2016 2:59 PM

Mar 27, 2016 3:15 PM

If so, I feel a storm* may be a comin'...

Why use some 3rd party to do what Jive can already do?

*a change in SiteWare?

Mar 27, 2016 3:15 PM

Mar 27, 2016 4:18 PM

Too bad these aren't retroactive because I think most of the people here would have automatically zoomed to level 10, or probably level 50 with as many times as we've done the things in that last.

Mar 27, 2016 4:18 PM

Mar 27, 2016 5:06 PM

That is what SHOULD have happened.

as if we are not already "engaged" with the community? - which is what I understand gamification is all about

*increasing* participation with "stickers" is for Kindergarten kids

Mar 27, 2016 5:06 PM

Mar 28, 2016 9:16 AM

So far, I've only seen "1x" for each task, but keep in mind that you may have completed the same task for a previous level and would need to do it again for the current level.


EDIT: The Level 4 bookmarking requirement is 2x.

...and apparently we do not have the 15 minute edit restriction for comments on User Tips, nice!

Mar 28, 2016 9:16 AM

Mar 28, 2016 4:46 PM

stevejobsfan0123 wrote:


SNIP

...and apparently we do not have the 15 minute edit restriction for comments on User Tips, nice!

I noticed that ever since I got Level 5 - Although I didn't really even contemplate replying until recently, so it may have been there all along 😉

Mar 28, 2016 4:46 PM

Mar 28, 2016 5:07 PM

Level 9 doesn't make sense. Your user tip was liked. You don't need to make a user tip in the levels, only in the badges.

Mar 28, 2016 5:07 PM

Mar 28, 2016 5:53 PM

bobseufert wrote:


Level 9 doesn't make sense. Your user tip was liked. You don't need to make a user tip in the levels, only in the badges.

??


That's correct, but why doesn't it make sense? In order to get to Level 9, you must have at least 4,000 points (to have a reputation level of 5), and then you must create a User Tip which someone else must like.

Mar 28, 2016 5:53 PM

Mar 28, 2016 6:09 PM

Ahhh, but we're talking about two different recognition systems, here.


There's the reputation system that's been around for ages, where we gain points (currently not shown under our avatars 😠 as you know) when our posts our marked as helpful or solved.


Then there's the new specialty system. In order to get to Level 9, you must create a User Tip, but in order to create a User Tip, you must be a Level 5 or higher in the reputation system.

Mar 28, 2016 6:09 PM

Mar 28, 2016 6:16 PM

If it said,

Level 7 4,000 points

Level 8 Create a user tip.

Level 9 Your user tip is Liked,

It would make sense. One step at a time. One building on the other.

Mar 28, 2016 6:16 PM

Mar 28, 2016 9:03 PM

Odd that some of the higher levels (6, 8) require less effort than some of the lower levels (2, 3).


Actually, I take it back. It's not odd at all, it's par for the course around here. 😉

Mar 28, 2016 9:03 PM

Apr 1, 2016 2:39 PM

SJF


I get a few email notices by following this UT... just got one dated Apr 1, 2016 3:58 PM = UT shows modified : Apr 1, 2016 3:58 PM -- yet I can't figger out what's changed?

I get notices when someone replies as I am doing now, but I see only ONE "Apr 1" timestamp at the modified position on the page

If you make 'edits' to your main body text, doesn't that create "versions" that can then be compared?

Apr 1, 2016 2:39 PM

Apr 1, 2016 3:40 PM

New spot... used to be that there was a versions "line item" AROUND the Modified line item somewhere - version # item was a LINK that did back flips or jumped trough fiery hoops


Thank you for enlightening me to the unannounced change

Apr 1, 2016 3:40 PM

Apr 1, 2016 4:44 PM

I just thought that one MIGHT could make edit(s) WITHOUT making a version out of it = thus, no version TO display (but, I was wrong wasn't I?)

Apr 1, 2016 4:44 PM

Apr 21, 2016 11:24 PM

Great work, stevejobsfan0123! Thanks for collecting all this.


We should compare the numbers required for the next tasks, because solved, helpful, reports will carry over, if we completed more on the previous levels (after the new system had been introduced)


For example, you have seen this for level 10:


Your reply is marked as Helpful

Your answer is marked as Solved for another member's question (7x)

When I reached that step for the iLife speciality, it listed originally "Solved for another member's question (10x)" and a higher number for "Helpful" that I do not remember.


It would be good to collect the upper bounds on the requirements - the numbers we first are seeing will differ, because the panels are showing what still needs to be done, taking into account, what carries over from the level before.

I am currently at level 8 for two communities and the panels are showing higher numbers to reach level 9 than in your list:

User uploaded file


User uploaded file

For Photography is only one more Solved required, it used to be four. For iCloud are still 4 required Solved shown.


And to reach Level 5 I can currently see at least 3 Helpfuls required in the iOS Speciality panel.

Apr 21, 2016 11:24 PM

Apr 26, 2016 7:55 PM

Thanks for the additional info. I'll look at this in more depth when I get a chance. I got my Level 9 & 10 information from tt2. I can't imagine it being different for different posters, so I'll have to double check.

Apr 26, 2016 7:55 PM

Apr 27, 2016 10:14 AM

Still cannot compare versions or "show changes"(magnifying glass column) > results in Unauthorized page for both for me

Apr 27, 2016 10:14 AM

Apr 30, 2016 10:29 AM

Another update:


For level 10 at least 9 Solved and 5 Helpful required, as I can see now on my "Photography" speciality.

User uploaded file

Apr 30, 2016 10:29 AM

Apr 30, 2016 3:19 PM

Yes, I think so too. The totals may be much higher, that's why we need to compare what we are seeing, so we can find out the maximum.

Apr 30, 2016 3:19 PM

Apr 30, 2016 3:30 PM

This is from my recollection, as I cannot get a view that has the circle with more than one requirement...

The circle is divided "subtly" into (imperceptible) sections representing the number required to start with. As each task is achieved, it colors one of the sections - from grey to blue.

from image above

  1. One task to go
  2. Four tasks to go

User uploaded file

Apr 30, 2016 3:30 PM

Apr 30, 2016 4:01 PM

It is not very intuitive. Some nice OP just sent me a Solved and a Helpful and now the circles are looking the same, but the numbers inside changed.

User uploaded file

Apr 30, 2016 4:01 PM

Apr 30, 2016 4:13 PM

Yes it might appear that way. But rest assured the Bobfather would not make such an assertion in a matter of such importance without being positive of the outcome.

Or if we were speaking English "I checked first." 🙂

Apr 30, 2016 4:13 PM

May 1, 2016 10:57 AM

To add to the confusion, it seems that if you fulfill a specialty requirement before actually reaching that specialty level, it will still count. For example, when I reached Level 5, the "Solved" requirement was already filled in for Level 6. An OP had awarded me a Solved earlier today, but before I reached Level 5. I think if you look at the requirement immediately after reaching a new level, then that would be the best chance of figuring out the total requirement.

May 1, 2016 10:57 AM

May 1, 2016 11:06 AM

I think if you look at the requirement immediately after reaching a new level, then that would be the best chance of figuring out the total requirement.

And even then it may be too late, if we fulfilled the requirements already between the launch of the new software and reaching the next level.


I think, when I reached level 9 for Photos I saw a requirement of 20 "Solved" for the next level, but I am not sure.


Why are our kind hosts keeping this information secret? We cannot even discover it as we proceed from level to level, since it keeps changing, depending on what we accomplished in advance.

May 1, 2016 11:06 AM

May 1, 2016 1:45 PM

léonie wrote:

Why are our kind hosts keeping this information secret? We cannot even discover it as we proceed from level to level, since it keeps changing, depending on what we accomplished in advance.

Exactly. The reason I wrote this tip in the first place was to try to provide some clarity on the situation, but even that is proving difficult.

May 1, 2016 1:45 PM

May 1, 2016 2:00 PM

stevejobsfan0123 wrote:


léonie wrote:

Why are our kind hosts keeping this information secret? We cannot even discover it as we proceed from level to level, since it keeps changing, depending on what we accomplished in advance.

Exactly. The reason I wrote this tip in the first place was to try to provide some clarity on the situation, but even that is proving difficult.

It is quite possible that the Hosts do not have a handle on the specifics of the Gamification add-on. AppleJiveTeam and Hosts are distinctly different outfits. My experience with a specific problem I have (had, I hope) is that the Hosts act as a "middleman" in communicating with the AJT -

  • I email Hosts with problem & data I think will be useful in troubleshooting/debugging
  • Hosts 'forward' *something* to AJT
  • AJT then completely disregards my "evidence" and asks for something else instead through the Host conduit
    (I saw no way of that data being useful at all)
  • I provide data requested to the Hosts - but continue collecting relevant data anyway
  • This goes on for months

No way to run a circus, much less a ship!

May 1, 2016 2:00 PM

May 1, 2016 5:25 PM

We used to say in land surveying (which is VERY precise) "Close enough for government work" when the tolerances were VERY low

(a fire hydrant doesn't matter if it is a foot or so either way - bottom of a high bridge pillar on the other hand... error "compounds" the farther you go)


At least we are not riding this puppy to space (200,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder)

May 1, 2016 5:25 PM

May 1, 2016 10:59 PM

stevejobsfan0123 wrote:


léonie wrote:

Why are our kind hosts keeping this information secret? We cannot even discover it as we proceed from level to level, since it keeps changing, depending on what we accomplished in advance.

Exactly. The reason I wrote this tip in the first place was to try to provide some clarity on the situation, but even that is proving difficult.

This user tip is a very good starting point. if all of us keep collecting the requirements we are seeing, and keep posting updates, we may have a complete inventory after a year or so - hopefully, before the system changes again.

May 1, 2016 10:59 PM

May 1, 2016 11:14 PM

User uploaded file

My current interpretation of the grey and blue segments is, that the number inside the circle corresponds to the relative length of the grey segment. Then it would read: 8 of 20 Solved are still missing, and four of 40 (or thirty?) Helpful. It is not very easy to estimate the lengths of the segments accurately.

May 1, 2016 11:14 PM

May 2, 2016 12:29 AM

This is for demonstration purposes only and I don't want people to use it. If you started a thread, marking your answer helpful seems to add to the reply marked as helpful requirement


I'm wondering if a non-OP marks your answer helpful does it count. How can we properly help people unless we have this information ?

May 2, 2016 12:29 AM

May 2, 2016 7:41 AM

How can we properly help people unless we have this information ?


I try to help without worrying about points, specialties, or any other "perks" - it works.

May 2, 2016 7:41 AM

May 2, 2016 3:23 PM

Come again ? I'm talking about having the ability to help OP's, not points badges anything else. Isn't it you who always quote the TOU about testing an answer ? I never answer a question I haven't just tested. Being that the system is still new we'll be getting questions about it for the next two years. I want to be prepared to give factual answers, not opinions.

May 2, 2016 3:23 PM

May 2, 2016 4:33 PM

There appears to be some miscommunication; here is what I replied to:


I'm wondering if a non-OP marks your answer helpful does it count. How can we properly help people unless we have this information ?


Apparently, I have misunderstood what you were referring to - looks to me like you were referring to a helpful counting towards the next level of specialties in the sentence before the one I quoted previously.


This also played a role in my misinterpretation:


If you started a thread, marking your answer helpful seems to add to the reply marked as helpful requirement

May 2, 2016 4:33 PM

May 6, 2016 10:32 PM

I think I may have found a formula: it seems like the requirements will always be either 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x. For example, after my most recent level-up, I checked and the next specialty level showed a requirement of 5 "Your answer is marked as Helpfuls." I had not gotten any additional Helpfuls since leveling up so I'm sure that's the new requirement. It has consistently been 5x through the last few levels. So, going off of the formula, if you see 4x, then it probably started out as 5x, and if you see 7x or 8x, it probably started out as 10x. I've updated the Tip accordingly.

May 6, 2016 10:32 PM

May 21, 2016 8:58 PM

bobseufert

I never answer a question I haven't just tested.

It does seem interesting cf. Jive & Gamification, maybe you could have a talk with the powers that be—if you throw enough s**t at the back of the fan you are bound to hit something 😉

May 21, 2016 8:58 PM

May 24, 2016 6:42 PM

Hi Steve,

I don't know if it's a recent change, but Level 2 now requires 2x "Create a new discussion."User uploaded file

May 24, 2016 6:42 PM

May 25, 2016 11:20 AM

Huh?

I must admit, this is a real puzzle to me.

UX design Best Practices mandates that one create so that "My 80 year old Mother can understand it."

Methinks this falls a tad short of that. 😉


I don't think that Apple ever intended that we apply this much scrutiny to the game rules 👿

May 25, 2016 11:20 AM

May 25, 2016 12:11 PM

Of course! Let's take away from our precious time "helping folks" (read that clearly as "saving Apple money by being the volunteer front line of Apple Support") and figger out a game. Makes perfect sense!

Robert is right when he concurs with my original analysis about this being the "brain child" of some mid-level manager buying into the "positives" presented by Jive and earning their pay by pitching it as proven.

Wikipedia has a whole section on the "cons" > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamification#Criticism

my favorite...

... Heather Chaplin, writing in Slate, describes gamification as "an allegedly populist idea that actually benefits corporate interests over those of ordinary people". ...

[emphasis is mine]

May 25, 2016 12:11 PM

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