OLYMPIADS IN INFORMATICS, 2008, Vol. 2, 5-15
© Institute of Mathematics and Informatics,
ISSN 1822-7732
Breaking the Routine: Events to Complement Informatics Olympiad Training
Benjamin A. BURTON
Department of Mathematics, SMGS, RMIT University GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia E-mail: bab@debian.org
Abstract
Like many other countries, Australia holds live-in schools to train and select students for the International Olympiad in Informatics. Here we discuss some of the more interesting events at these schools that complement the usual routine of lectures, problems and exams. In particular we focus on three events: (i) codebreakers, aimed at designing tests and finding counterexamples; (ii) ``B-sessions'', aimed at implementation and rigour; and (iii) team events, which use challenges in cryptography and information security to encourage teamwork in a competitive setting. Practical issues are also discussed.
Keywords:
programming contests, training, testing, implementation, teamwork
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Copyright © Olympiads in Informatics, Vilnius University Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, 2008
