Merlin Mavens
Introduction[edit]
Merlin Mavens™ is a special program of Coder Merlin™ to bring recognition to dedicated and motivated students. Progress in the program requires both demonstration of expertise and service to the community.
As students demonstrate mastery of a topic they're awarded "wands" which are rendered as right-pointing chevrons. As students serve the community they're awarded "crystal shards" which are rendered as left-pointing chevrons. When both a wand and shard have been earned, students advance to the next level. After a series of levels have been earned students advance in the color of their sash.
Requirements for Demonstrating Mastery[edit]
Demonstration of mastery in each subject will occur through the successful completion of a Merlin Mission with a score of 90% or greater. In the case that the target score is not achieved, students may redo the Merlin Mission after no less than fourteen calendar days have elapsed.
Requirements for Service[edit]
Service requirements are based upon a points system, Coder Merlin™ Service Points. Points are earned as follows:
- 1 point for each ten minutes devoted to a helpme ticket assisting other students. Interaction must be documented in the helpme system. Partial points (at a resolution of 0.01) are awarded. A maximum of 2 points may be awarded per encounter.
- 3 points for each new student enrolled by a Merlin Mavens™ Mentor. Points will be awarded to the mentor when the student completes the mastery requirements for White Sash Level 1. Additional points may be earned by providing assistance to the student through helpme tickets. In order to qualify, notify the mentee to include your email address in the appropriate field when requesting an account.
- 5 - 30 points for a wiki article. See Articles Wanted for an up-to-date list.
- Points do not expire, however you must earn no less than three points per month to maintain your rank.
Special Powers[edit]
With great power comes great responsibility
Merlin Mavens™ Mentors gain special powers, including:
- Providing textual assistance via chatwoot
- Remotely logging on to a user's terminal via a helpme request and ticket
Digital Badges[edit]
A digital badge is a visual symbol of achievement. Students can collect and share digital credentials that validate their skills and accomplishments, and send signals of success to networks that matter to them, such as Discord, Twitter, and Facebook.
For more information:
Program Application[edit]
Any current user of Coder Merlin™ with an existing shell account may apply for acceptance using this application.
Rules of Engagement[edit]
Sashmojis[edit]
Sashmojis are a concise shortcut for specifying sashes and levels using only two characters.
Sashes[edit]
⬜️🟨🟧🟩🟪🟦🟫🟥⬛️
Levels[edit]
0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣
White Sash[edit]
White Sash - Zero Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Entry Level Maven | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️0️⃣ |
Description: Expresses a commitment to master the skills of Computer Science and assist peers
| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
|
Criteria: An earner of this credential has expressed a commitment to invest the required effort necessary to master the skills of Computer Science and assist their peers and others in their efforts.
Estimated time to earn credential: 0.0 hours
Tags:
White Sash - First Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Basic CLI Software Development Tools | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️1️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates knowledge and skills of basic software development tools using a command-line interface
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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1 Coder Merlin™ Service Point |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic tools required for software development on Linux. This includes the basic use of the Bash command-line interface, the basic use of the Emacs text editor, and the use of the Merlin Mission Manager to provide feedback on challenges. The earner must also gain at least one service point by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 8.0 hours
Tags: 
bash emacs merlin mission manager
White Sash - Second Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Number Systems | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️2️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates knowledge and skills of using number systems in alternative bases
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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3 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills in using alternative base number systems and alternative base addition. The earner must also gain at least three service points by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 6.0 hours
Tags: number systems alternative base addition
White Sash - Third Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Boolean Algebra | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️3️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates knowledge and skills of using Boolean algebra
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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6 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills in using Boolean algebra, logic gates, bitwise operations, logic composition, and complex gates such as binary adders and an SR Latch. The earner must also gain at least six service points by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 12.0 hours
Tags: boolean algebra logic gates bitwise operations logic composition binary adders SR Latch
White Sash - Fourth Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Computer History and Architecture | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️4️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates knowledge of computer history and architecture
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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6 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge of computer history and architecture. The earner must also gain at least six service points by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 3.0 hours
Tags: computer history computer architecture
White Sash - Fifth Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Encoding and Data Types | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️5️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates knowledge and skills of basic data types and their storage
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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12 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills in using positive and negative integers, nil values, expressions and operators, and conversion between types. The earner must also gain at least twelve service points by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 20.0 hours
Tags: positive integers negative integers nil values data conversions
White Sash - Sixth Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Git and GitHub Basics | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️6️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates basic knowledge and skills of using Git and GitHub
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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12 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills using Git and GitHub to add and commit files, tag versions, and configure and push to remote repositories. The earner must also gain at least twelve service points by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 22.0 hours
Tags: git add git commit git tag git push
White Sash - Seventh Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Scope Basics | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓⬜️7️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates basic knowledge and skills of variable, function, and block scope
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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12 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills of variable, function, and block scope. The earner must also gain at least twelve service points by assisting others in their studies.
Estimated time to earn credential: 10.0 hours
Tags: variable scope function scope block scope
Yellow Sash[edit]
Yellow Sash - First Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Basic Karel Algorithms | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓🟨1️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates basic knowledge and skills of Karel algorithms
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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15 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills, including the ability to independently code algorithms for:
- orienting Karel appropriate to the task at hand,
- navigating Karel around obstacles,
- determining permissible boundaries for Karel movement, and
- picking up and dropping off beepers.
Estimated time to earn credential: 20.0 hours
Tags: karel orientation karel navigation karel tasks
Yellow Sash - Second Level[edit]
| Digital badge: Basic Numeric Algorithms | Sashmoji: MMM-🧑🎓🟨2️⃣ |
Description: Demonstrates basic knowledge and skills of common algorithms
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| Badge | Promotion Requirements for Mastery | Promotion Requirements for Service |
|---|---|---|
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15 Coder Merlin™ Service Points |
Criteria: An earner of this credential has studied and demonstrated knowledge and skills, including the ability to independently code algorithms for:
- finding the largest integer of three,
- finding the greatest common divisor of two integers,
- determining whether or not a number is prime, and
- finding the next prime given an arbitrary integer.
Estimated time to earn credential: 12.0 hours
Tags: algorithm largest of three algorithm greatest common divisor algorithm finding primes
