Challenges and Benefits of Programming Competitions as Outreach to High School Students

Software development-oriented competitions are one way that computing degree programs like software engineering, support outreach to local high schools. Such competitions motivate students to succeed, help students build teamwork, and assist in improving student software skills. Indeed, there are a variety of different types of competitions ranging from robotics([1]) to process-oriented that emphasize team interactions([2]). This paper reports on the approach used by Robert Morris University (RMU) that annually conducts programming competition for area high school students. The goal of the paper is to provide insight into both how competitions are organized as well as the challenges to and benefits of competitions. In addition this paper emphasizes on how software engineering practices like flowcharts, pair programming, and reviews can be introduced to high school students. The paper will address questions such as: What is the RMU-ACM annual programming competition? How does host institution organize and deliver such a competition? What is the motivation for organizing the competition? What are the benefits for this competition to stakeholders? What are the challenges and how are they handled? What skills do students actually gain in a programming competition? Do programming competitions motivate students to succeed? Do high school students learn software engineering practices? Results of a survey of high school teachers on their perceptions of student motivation and learning as well as the impact of the competition on student career plans are also presented.