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Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiadin South Africa
Bruce Merry1 Marco Gallotta2 Carl Hultquist2
1ARM Ltd
2Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of Cape Town
August 20, 2008
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Digital Divide
ICT infrastructure in SA schoolsAffluent suburbs
Computers with Internet commonComputer Studies classes available at some schools
Poorer areasLack the most basic of facilitiesNo computers or Internet
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Digital Divide
ICT infrastructure in SA schoolsAffluent suburbs
Computers with Internet commonComputer Studies classes available at some schools
Poorer areasLack the most basic of facilitiesNo computers or Internet
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Digital Divide
ICT infrastructure in SA schoolsAffluent suburbs
Computers with Internet commonComputer Studies classes available at some schools
Poorer areasLack the most basic of facilitiesNo computers or Internet
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Representative Computer Olympiad
Aim:Involve as many students as possibleFoster interest in CS amongst talented students
But how can one run a computer olympiad for studentswith no access to computers?Size of South AfricaReliable Internet accessCoordinating and marking becomes problematic
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Representative Computer Olympiad
Aim:Involve as many students as possibleFoster interest in CS amongst talented students
But how can one run a computer olympiad for studentswith no access to computers?Size of South AfricaReliable Internet accessCoordinating and marking becomes problematic
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Representative Computer Olympiad
Aim:Involve as many students as possibleFoster interest in CS amongst talented students
But how can one run a computer olympiad for studentswith no access to computers?Size of South AfricaReliable Internet accessCoordinating and marking becomes problematic
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Representative Computer Olympiad
Aim:Involve as many students as possibleFoster interest in CS amongst talented students
But how can one run a computer olympiad for studentswith no access to computers?Size of South AfricaReliable Internet accessCoordinating and marking becomes problematic
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
International Olympiad in Informatics
SA has taken part in the IOI since 1992Need a mechanism to select teamsContest of comparable standard to the IOI
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
International Olympiad in Informatics
SA has taken part in the IOI since 1992Need a mechanism to select teamsContest of comparable standard to the IOI
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
South African Computer Olympiad
SACO has evolved into three rounds of competitionPen-and-paper roundProgramming round at schoolsOn-site finals
Follwed by training and IOI
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
South African Computer Olympiad
SACO has evolved into three rounds of competitionPen-and-paper roundProgramming round at schoolsOn-site finals
Follwed by training and IOI
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
South African Computer Olympiad
SACO has evolved into three rounds of competitionPen-and-paper roundProgramming round at schoolsOn-site finals
Follwed by training and IOI
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round
Aim: involve as many students as possiblePen-and-paper roundSimilar to mathematics olympiads, but focus on logic andprogramming
Beaver contest
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round
Aim: involve as many students as possiblePen-and-paper roundSimilar to mathematics olympiads, but focus on logic andprogramming
Beaver contest
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Sample Problem
Sally (S) wants to go home (H). She can only move up or rightone square each time. She is not allowed to go through blacksquares. How many paths can she pick from to go home?
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Logistics
Question paper mailed to schools via postal serviceSchool teachers admister and mark submissionsAnswers designed to be objective
Multiple choice or a unique correct answerTeachers do not require any computer knowledge
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Logistics
Question paper mailed to schools via postal serviceSchool teachers admister and mark submissionsAnswers designed to be objective
Multiple choice or a unique correct answerTeachers do not require any computer knowledge
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Logistics
Question paper mailed to schools via postal serviceSchool teachers admister and mark submissionsAnswers designed to be objective
Multiple choice or a unique correct answerTeachers do not require any computer knowledge
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Divisions
Senior divisionAimed at grades 10–12Career choices
Junior divisionRestricted to grade 9 and lowerSubject choices
Same paper used for both divisionsDistinguish only in rankingsBroaden the difficulty of the questions as much as possible
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Divisions
Senior divisionAimed at grades 10–12Career choices
Junior divisionRestricted to grade 9 and lowerSubject choices
Same paper used for both divisionsDistinguish only in rankingsBroaden the difficulty of the questions as much as possible
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Divisions
Senior divisionAimed at grades 10–12Career choices
Junior divisionRestricted to grade 9 and lowerSubject choices
Same paper used for both divisionsDistinguish only in rankingsBroaden the difficulty of the questions as much as possible
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Results
To gather and collate all results would be an enormous taskInstead, rankings only within schoolsEnormous differences in education standards
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Results
To gather and collate all results would be an enormous taskInstead, rankings only within schoolsEnormous differences in education standards
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
First Round: Statistics
First introduced in 200311 123 participants
Junior division introduced in 2006Immediate increase to 31 926 participants
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round
Second round of the SACO requires a computerOpen to anyone, regardless of participation in the firstroundProblems algorithmic with specific answers like the IOIEasy for teachers with no programming experience to marksolutions
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round
Second round of the SACO requires a computerOpen to anyone, regardless of participation in the firstroundProblems algorithmic with specific answers like the IOIEasy for teachers with no programming experience to marksolutions
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round: Marking
Test data included in the problem descriptionStudents submit both their source code and printouts oftest runs on these test casesMinimises work required by teachers markingAutomated marking is infeasibleRe-mark top papers centrally
Few points allocated for programming stylePrintouts of code and test runs sent by postal service
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round: Marking
Test data included in the problem descriptionStudents submit both their source code and printouts oftest runs on these test casesMinimises work required by teachers markingAutomated marking is infeasibleRe-mark top papers centrally
Few points allocated for programming stylePrintouts of code and test runs sent by postal service
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round: Marking
Test data included in the problem descriptionStudents submit both their source code and printouts oftest runs on these test casesMinimises work required by teachers markingAutomated marking is infeasibleRe-mark top papers centrally
Few points allocated for programming stylePrintouts of code and test runs sent by postal service
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round: Start Division
Start division offered for grades 10 and belowChange of age group due to programming beingintroducedParticipants not eligible for the third roundSome problems shared with Open division
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Second Round: Statistics
Figure: SACO Second Round participation
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Third Round
Top fifteen or so contestants invited to final roundOn-site event hosted at the University of Cape TownFormat follows the IOI quite closely with two five hourcontests
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Third Round: Languages Offered
C, C++, Pascal, Java and PythonJava is the main language taugh in SA schoolsPython added due to the backing of a sponsorLarge prizes offered for the top Python usersExtremely popular as it is easy to learn and powerfulDifferent time limits for Python
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Third Round: Languages Offered
C, C++, Pascal, Java and PythonJava is the main language taugh in SA schoolsPython added due to the backing of a sponsorLarge prizes offered for the top Python usersExtremely popular as it is easy to learn and powerfulDifferent time limits for Python
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Third Round: Junior Division
Judging of the final round is as strict and impartial as theIOILimits its use as a training opportunitySemi-official junior division of the final round addedFor-fun event with no prizes, but judges can provide hintsSeveral junior contestants have returned as regularfinal-round contestants
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Third Round: Junior Division
Judging of the final round is as strict and impartial as theIOILimits its use as a training opportunitySemi-official junior division of the final round addedFor-fun event with no prizes, but judges can provide hintsSeveral junior contestants have returned as regularfinal-round contestants
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Third Round: Junior Division
Judging of the final round is as strict and impartial as theIOILimits its use as a training opportunitySemi-official junior division of the final round addedFor-fun event with no prizes, but judges can provide hintsSeveral junior contestants have returned as regularfinal-round contestants
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Statistics: Scores in Round 2 Against Round 1
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Statistics: Scores in Round 3 Against Round 2
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA
Questions?
Bruce Merry ([email protected])Marco Gallotta ([email protected])Carl Hultquist ([email protected])
B. Merry, M. Gallotta, C. Hultquist Challenges in Running a Computer Olympiad in SA