Three Uses of the Online Social Programming Training System: On Nature and Purpose of Spreading Algorithmic Problem Solving

We report on experience related to the online training for the Italian and International Olympiads in Informatics (IOI). We developed an interactive online system, integrating the programming problems and the grading system used in several major programming contests, including the IOI. The system has been used in three distinct contexts: training students for the Italian Olympiads in Informatics (OII), training teachers in order to be able to assist students for the OII, and training the Italian team for the IOI. We also present the initial design of an extension deemed to provide trainees with a personalized support to skills’ enhancement on contest problems.