AsleepAdhyyan's blog

Buddy System Initiative
By AsleepAdhyyan, history, 5 years ago, In English

In the past weeks many people have messaged me asking for help/mentoring in competitive programming. I can't possibly help so many people at the same time but I would like to start an initiative that could be a more efficient way to motivate and teach the new comers.

A few observations I have made over the years:

  • Big groups discourage people from asking simple doubts and group is mostly full of spam.

  • Any group with a large skill difference normally turns toxic and isn't helpful to any party involved.

  • Motivation is the key factor in success and this can be achieved only when you make friends

So here's the idea:

  • Everyone fill up this Google form which collects basic information.

  • I will form groups of 3-4 people who have similar skills and 1 mentor who has a higher skill level. Then each group will form a texting group on Facebook Messenger or wherever they prefer.

  • If a group becomes inactive, one can refill the form and I can try and reallocate them.

Link of Form

Please give any suggestions in the comments. I would also love someone who could help me with this initiative.

UPD: I have made all the groups and have send a batch of emails out. Will send the rest of the emails out as soon as gmail lets me send them.

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Comments Comments (38)
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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +42 Vote: I do not like it

Sounds like a thoughtful initiative. Also congrats on IOI silver :)

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

3-4 seems very less . if 2 or 3 became inactive it sucks to be alone better keep a limit of 7 or 8.

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    5 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    In my experience, 7-8 becomes too much and people become afraid to ask questions. The correct size can only be found by experimenting, so maybe I'll try multiple group sizes. Also if a group does become inactive the active members should fill the form again so I can reallocate them.

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      5 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +4 Vote: I do not like it

      the groups are already inactive(they were never active).How to refill the form?

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +10 Vote: I do not like it

Hope enough students and mentors get interested. Would love to be mentored by some experienced people. :)

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

I think this would be a great help to all the people preparing for the IOI (including me) but I would suggest making the groups on Telegram as I find it to be a better place to form groups where people need to collaborate.

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

Bump

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5 years ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

When will be groups assigned?

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    5 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +14 Vote: I do not like it

    People are still signing up, so I'll wait a bit more and then do it.

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      5 years ago, # ^ |
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      Any tentative cutoff time that u have decided upon?

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        5 years ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +18 Vote: I do not like it

        This Sunday, I will make the first set of groups.

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          5 years ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

          Did you make it?

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            5 years ago, # ^ |
              Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

            Sorry, been a bit busy. Also I am figuring out how to automate the whole system because more than 250 ppl have signed up. Much more than I expected before.

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +26 Vote: I do not like it

Very excited about this initiative ^_^ Most of my friends are inactive in codeforces. At times I wish I had a few people of my level to discuss about the problems that I solve/they solve or get stuck at, share new ideas that I find awesome, nice blogs that I come across or just to stay motivated and not feel like practicing all alone. Thank you very much for trying to make it possible ^_^

I would also love someone who could help me with this initiative

Although I signed up as a member, I'm also up for any help you might need. I don't know if my programming skills are up to par, but I'm available if you need any organizational or management or some other help(as there might be a lot of groups).

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

Bump

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +5 Vote: I do not like it

I am interested to be a part of this group.Congrats for IOI silver

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Auto comment: topic has been updated by AsleepAdhyyan (previous revision, new revision, compare).

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +13 Vote: I do not like it

I'm in four groups? Isn't this too many?

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +15 Vote: I do not like it

There is no any reaction from my group :(

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

Can you re-open the link? Great initiative

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

Hey congrats on IOI silver.

Could you reopen the buddy system form?

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +24 Vote: I do not like it

Can you please reopen the form?

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5 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +20 Vote: I do not like it

Can you please reopen the form?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +32 Vote: I do not like it

Any plans to reboot this?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

can you open the buddy system again?

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4 years ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +44 Vote: I do not like it

Question for people who got into a buddy group: How did it go?

Did your buddy group work (and is it still active)?

If not, why do you think it failed?

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    4 years ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +18 Vote: I do not like it

    Good question. I was assigned two buddy groups as a mentor and two as a mentee. All all basically totally dead now, though three of them were kinda active for a while. I think they died because discord servers almost always die, especially when the AC server serves almost all purposes these servers did, plus loads more purposes.

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      4 years ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it +8 Vote: I do not like it

      Thanks for sharing!

      Honestly, groups will inevitably fall apart as peoples' goals and/or abilities in cp diverge, but for your groups to have been active for a while (I'm guessing at least 3 months?) is quite encouraging and already enough for the members to reap many benefits before moving on.

      I'm kinda-sorta active on the AC server, and disagree that it "serves almost all purposes these servers did," mainly for the reason that "Big groups discourage people from asking simple doubts and group is mostly full of spam" and that "Motivation is the key factor in success and this can be achieved only when you make friends."

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