Computer Society of Macedonia

Mile Jovanov, PhD Faculty of Computer Science and

Engineering, Skopje,Macedonia

• on the initiative of a group of professors at the Institute of Informatics, FNSM, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje,

• in the year 2000• continued with the activities previously performed by the

former Mathematical and Computer Society of Macedonia

Formed:

• Computer science teachers (high schools and elementary schools), information technologists & lecturers at the Universities in Macedonia

Members:

• introduction, popularization and promotion of informatics and information technology and its application,

• encouragement and introduction of informatics in all areas of the society, especially in the education,

• organization, implementation and participation in informatics competitions for pupils and students

• …

Among the main goals:

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Computer Society of Macedonia

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People

Event 2

Event 12

Event 89

Event 1

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Me

Professor at the Faculty of the

Computer Science and Engineering in

Skopje

President of the CSM

(2009 - )

President of BOI

(2014-2017)

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Government advisor on

the ‘300000 Tablet’ project

PS & SS curricula in Informatics

We usually talk about algorithmic programming contests

A perfect opportunity for pupils to introduce to the art of programming and

create a very solid background for becoming engineers in informatics

International Olympiads in InformaticsThe idea proposed to the General

Conference of UNESCO in ParisFirst Olympiad in 1989

Each participating country typically sends a delegation of 4 pupils

Balkan Olympiads in Informatics

CSM is the main organizer of competitions in informatics for both SS and PS pupils

Every year, contestants go through many levels of competition until the best are selected

23 Regional Competitions (HS)26 National Competitions (HS)19 National Olympiads (HS) 8 National Competitions (PS)

Competitions in informatics

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Engaging pupils in the competitionsWe have to spread the information among

the pupils/keep them informed- build and maintain a ‘community’ of

competitors (collaborate throughout the whole year)

- more traditional methods, e.g. contacting and informing the schools

Motivating teachers and school authorities

(to inform and mentor the pupils)CS teachers, mainly, do not want to spend

extra time for tutoring gifted pupils the greatest reason: that they are not

familiar enough with the curriculum of the programming competitions

The best solution for motivation - Provide online materials, training and

q/a support for the pupils, in every stage of their training for the competitions, and - Inform the teachers for this convenience

and put additional pressure directly through the pupils

Keeping the participants informed, and ‘in condition’

Publically present the information for the next competitions (dates, rules, procedures, results,

etc.) in order to directly inform the pupilsthe most reliable way (opposite to informing

through the teachers ) The greatest challenge of all is to motivate

pupils to constantly prepare - public sets of tasks that can be solved at any time

Challenges in the Organization of the Competitions

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MENDO (http://mendo.mk)

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MENDO as a Training System

Interest in the competitions

Year Regional Competition

National Competition

National Olympiad

2010 55 45 23

2011 118 68 19

2012 209 95 21

2013 290 118 21

2014 341 101 21

2015 ~450 93 25

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Results of Macedonian Teams at International Contests

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Results of Macedonian Teams at International Contests

Number of medals won at IOI, BOI and JBOI in the last 4 years

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2009 2010 2011 20120

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

IOIBOIJBOI

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

20082009

20102011

20122013

201401234

Curriculum activities

6. Informatics (72 hours)7. Informatics (36)7 or 8. Projects in informatics (72)8 or 9. Programming (72)I. Informatics (72)II. Informatics (IT) (72)III. Programing languages (72)IV. Programing languages (109)

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3. Computing (72)4. Computing (72)5. Computing (72)6. Informatics (72)7. Informatics (36)7 or 8. Projects in informatics (72)8 or 9. Programming (72)I. Informatics (72)II. Informatics (IT) (72)III. Programing languages (72)IV. Programing languages (109)

Additional events

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CiiT 2015, scientific conference in informatics– Over 100 participants– 20 countries– April 2015

IOI workshop 2015: On the new international curriculum in Informatics for the elementary and high school

– 18 participants from different countries around the world– April 2015

Workshop 300 000: Best practices of implementing use of tablets in schools

– April/July 2015

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Additional events

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The manager anecdote

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The manager anecdote (2)

in debt

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in debt

1 000 000 $

4 000 000 $