Re: Easy/Expert quizzes

Bill Smith wrote:

>From: "the hatter" <[email protected]>
>
>>On Wed, 19 Jan 2005, Bill Smith wrote:
>>
>>>his group has a shortage of "Easy" quizzes.  Most of the "Expert"
>>>quizzes are difficult because they require expertise in the problem
>>>domain.  If we allowed (even encouraged) early posting of "Spoiler"
>>>design information, far more of us could participate by producing perl
>>>implementations.  Yes, there are a lot of details to work out if there
>>>is interest in this approach.
>>>      
>>>
>>Surely the point of the spoiler time limit is to let people crack on with
>>their design, so a range of strategies are seen, without being distracted
>>down a maybe more obvious path ?  There's nothing to stop anyone posting a
>>solution after the next week's quiz has been posted or after the official
>>summariser has posted, if they either think their way is
>>different/better/creative, nor to post it and ask for critique.  In fact,
>>some people do this already.  I think I prefer the current situation,
>>though maybe there is a demand for qotw-algorithms-discuss, less code,
>>more maths, geeking off at a different tangent ?
>>
>>the hatter
>>
>The relatively large number of people responding to "Easy" quizzes suggests
>that there is a demand for quizzes that primarily require coding skills.  I
>offered my proposal as a way to meet that demand.
>
>Few of these people use the option you suggest because posted code has the
>same "spoil" effect on them as posted designs would on designers.
>
>Clearly,rule changes should not be made without full support of the group.
>I don't see any.  Lets carry on as always.
>

I saw the 60hr limit as being a two fold issue.
The obvious one is to allow people time to form independent solutions.
A secondary one is to dissuade any "First Post" nonsense.

I could see a possible compromise to the 60hr limit for the expert 
problems.
Have a 48hr limit before revealing any spoilers, and then wait an 
additional 24hr before posting any solutions.

It makes no difference to me. I will only code solutions that I came up 
with myself. However, there are times when I can offer up a strategy to 
others, that I have no intention of completing on my own.

-- Rod