Does the participation in student competitions (robotics, programming, expos, etc.) enhance the students' performance and gives them better opportunities in the job market?
I have mentored many groups of students in local, regional, and international competitions, mainly programming competitions. I feel that these events help students in pushing their borders and working on bettering themselves by going the extra mile. Most students were "transformed" after their participation. They "matured". They were also exposed to the "outside world" and interacted with other students from different backgrounds. Some students got jobs because of their participation in such events.
On the other hand, participation in such competitions overloaded the students with tons of extra work. And sometimes this caused harm to their academic performance.
I want to know your opinion about this issue.
Thank you Michael for your opinion.
I do think that extracurricular activities such as competitions should be integrated somehow in the curriculum. Someone proposed a 5 points bonus on some related material for those who participate. What do you think?
Since I participated in several events and competitions, I think such events and competitions have a positive impact on the participants especially students. Such events would encourage the students to further their skills and prepare well.
I believe the best learning technique is when students have contact outside their usual classes. This contact will help them to develop a better collaboration among each others as a team and to create circles and networking with other participants. Now a days being a good player(team member) and having the proper networking are essential ingredients for getting employed.Hence, competition does bring great positive impact on students even if there is additional load associated with it.
Dear Christopher, thank you for your point of view. As you said competitions help students, but do they help institutions? What are their effects on the image of the university (positive or negative)? And by the way mabrook for the MS and hope to see you a PhD holder soon.
Dear Rajab, thank you so much for your feedback. Maybe we can statistically find out about the issue (This is a research proposal lol)
Competitions expose students to real world environments where they measure their competencies against others as a benchmark exercise. Lots of learning usually result and a good boosting to the students' potential to look for more challenges.
Thank you Dr. Hussein. I always believed that. How can you convince the higher ranks that participation in competitions (not only to win) is a good thing for students?
Thank you Michael Adrir Scott for the paper. It provides evidence on the positive effects of competitions.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Education