Where next? – The Kestrel Challenge
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The Kestrel Challenge is a new competition, piloting in March 2017. The top 10% achieving students in the UK Bebras Challenge will be invited to take part in a new challenge which aims to help talented computational thinkers move on to providing programmed solutions to problems.
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The Kestrel Challenge Format
The challenges will be run in schools using the Bebras infrastructure but with some new problem types.
Four age categories: Elite, Seniors, Intermediate and Juniors
Time allowed: 1hour
Aim: To solve as many problems as possible the time allowed. It is expected students will attempt all section 1 and 2 problems and then attempt two of the section 3 problems (although credit will be given for solving more!)
Each Challenge will have three sections:
Section 1
5 Blockly problems testing syllabus area one in a fairly straightforward way – only one solution
(2 points each)
Section 2
5 Blockly problems testing syllabus area one – only one solution
These problems may have distractor blocks and ask students to combine several aspects of syllabus area one
(4 points each)
Section 3
6 longer problems that test programming skills and the computational thinking skills outlined in syllabus area two
These can be solved using any programming language. Although it is OK to use documentation built into an IDE, searching the internet and looking at syntax guides is forbidden.
(8 points each)
Four age categories: Elite, Seniors, Intermediate and Juniors
Time allowed: 1hour
Aim: To solve as many problems as possible the time allowed. It is expected students will attempt all section 1 and 2 problems and then attempt two of the section 3 problems (although credit will be given for solving more!)
Each Challenge will have three sections:
Section 1
5 Blockly problems testing syllabus area one in a fairly straightforward way – only one solution
(2 points each)
Section 2
5 Blockly problems testing syllabus area one – only one solution
These problems may have distractor blocks and ask students to combine several aspects of syllabus area one
(4 points each)
Section 3
6 longer problems that test programming skills and the computational thinking skills outlined in syllabus area two
These can be solved using any programming language. Although it is OK to use documentation built into an IDE, searching the internet and looking at syntax guides is forbidden.
(8 points each)
An example Blockly question
Logo Maker:
A new country has been founded from five small, friendly countries. A program is required that can be used to create its new logo. Using only the blocks supplied, write a program that draws the shape shown. You may alter the variable values but you must keep the line length equal to 100 units.
A new country has been founded from five small, friendly countries. A program is required that can be used to create its new logo. Using only the blocks supplied, write a program that draws the shape shown. You may alter the variable values but you must keep the line length equal to 100 units.
An example longer question
Entwined Sequences:
Examine the series of numbers shown below:
2 1 4 3 8 5 16 7 32 9 64 ...
2 is the 1st number in the series, 1 is the 2nd number in the series, etc.
Using any programming language, create a program that finds the sum of the first 10,000 numbers.
Submit the first 10 digits of the sum as your answer.
(Answer: 2824934064)
Examine the series of numbers shown below:
2 1 4 3 8 5 16 7 32 9 64 ...
2 is the 1st number in the series, 1 is the 2nd number in the series, etc.
Using any programming language, create a program that finds the sum of the first 10,000 numbers.
Submit the first 10 digits of the sum as your answer.
(Answer: 2824934064)
Specimen challenges
Coming soon.
Preparation
The early questions will require you to be familiar with Blockly. A tutorial system that also includes some engaging challenges can be found here:
blockly-games.appspot.com
You will be required to be familiar with a modern programming language for solving Section 3 problems. Suitable tutorials can be found here:
Programming
You will need to be familiar with the sections in the Kestrel Syllabus (see below).
A carefully structured Python tutorial aimed at able beginner programmers can be found here:
computer science circles
blockly-games.appspot.com
You will be required to be familiar with a modern programming language for solving Section 3 problems. Suitable tutorials can be found here:
Programming
You will need to be familiar with the sections in the Kestrel Syllabus (see below).
A carefully structured Python tutorial aimed at able beginner programmers can be found here:
computer science circles
Kestrel Challenge Syllabus
Syllabus Area One:
- Strings, Output and Input
- Mathematical and Logical Operators
- Conditionals
- Loops
- Functions
- Lists and Arrays*
- Classes and Objects*
- File Input/Output*
Syllabus Area Two:
- Logical Thinking
- Algorithmic Thinking
- Decomposition
- Pattern Identification
- Abstraction
- Evaluation
- De-bugging
* Students in Junior and Intermediate age categories will not be set problems that require an understanding of the asterisked statements.