The last two weeks have seen just shy of 700 boys from as young as seven years old right through to our Upper Sixth Formers taking part in the Bebras Computing Challenge as part of their Computer Science lessons. This is the largest number of boys we have ever had compete in this international computer challenge – this year with over 50 countries taking part.
Over the years, UK Bebras has introduced pupils from all over the world to computational thinking, to create excitement and enthusiasm in this growing field.
The challenges are logic puzzles that require good computational theory and problem-solving skills, which encourages boys to break problems down into smaller pieces and think logically through problems. The boys were tasked to solve as many problems as possible in 40 minutes – all of which are completed online.
Additionally, the challenge teaches valuable time management and quick thinking, and encourages boys to look at and think about things differently, for example, solving problems backwards.
Upper Sixth Former Callum Ward explained, “Doing the challenges helps me visualise different computing techniques and practice approaching problems from a new perspective. The questions revolve around theories such as optimisation problems, ciphers and parallel computing. However, these complicated ideas are simplified into enjoyable puzzles which require different outlooks and trying new approaches to solve them.”
Problem-solving skills learnt in Computer Science are very transferable and can be used right across the curriculum. Callum went on to say, “Challenges such as this encourage me to keep trying and constantly look for different ways to approach a question. Doing different challenges for Computer Science similar to Bebras has certainly improved my maths as I now approach my exams more open-mindedly and ready to tackle problem-solving questions.”
Joe Travis, also in the Upper Sixth, took part in Bebras and commented, “Problem-solving skills are used in all places in life, effectively in any subject that requires a similar kind of on-the-spot thinking and the requirement to apply ideas quickly. This is especially apparent in a subject such as maths, particularly exam questions where often, in the A-Level course, exam questions require some level of deciphering of what it is actually asking you to do.”
Results are due in the next three weeks, and boys who achieve a distinction will be able to go on and compete in the Oxford University Advanced Challenges.
