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Difference between revisions of "Summer of Code/Application/2009"

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===  What is your plan for dealing with disappearing students? ===
===  What is your plan for dealing with disappearing students? ===
We know that the students can do that. They already did it for us in the past. And last year we improved it much more.
We know that the students can do that. We learned this the hard way the first time 'round the GSoC ride :-) The measures we set in place last year effectively erradicated this problem.


First, we will enforce certain rules at the program start. That is, we will clearly explain that this work should be considered as full-time, and that in any doubt we will not let the student enter the program.
As for this year, we will firstly enforce certain rules at the program start. That is, we will clearly explain that this work should be considered as full-time, and that in any doubt we will not let the student enter the program.


Second, we are going to introduce new policy, that is, the students have to provide status to their mentors on a bi-daily basis at most. If a student disappears for more than 3 days without notifying of his/her mentor, the student will fail off the project.
Second, we are going to introduce a new policy, that is, the students have to provide status to their mentors on a bi-daily basis at most. If a student disappears for more than 3 days without notifying of his/her mentor, the student will fail off the project. The students will be immediately aware of this during their applications. We have positively identified that frequent and meaningful communication goes a long way in keeping the students engaged and interested.


Of course, comprehensive timelines will be required as usual, and we will accept only those students who will set realistic goals, thus minimizing risk of getting scared and thus, disappear.
Of course, comprehensive timelines will be required as usual, and we will accept only those of the students which will set realistic goals, thus minimizing the risk of getting intimidated. This factor too frequently leads to the student disappearing.


During the program we will make sure that the students will feel themselves like home. Our mentors already have experience with that and in the past not only single person felt responsible for particular student, but whole project was trying to help when needed. This proved pretty good especially last year, and we are going to do our best this year too.
During the program we will make sure that the students will feel comfortable with their tasks. Our mentors already have experience with that. Moreover, in difficult situations in the past there was not a single person feeling responsible for a particular student, but rather the whole project was trying to help when needed. These reflexes on behalf of the mentor group but also on behalf of the active team members of ScummVM have proven to be a pretty good "tool", especially last year, and we are going to do our best this year too.


===  What is your plan for dealing with disappearing mentors? ===
===  What is your plan for dealing with disappearing mentors? ===
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