{"id":28792,"date":"2025-06-24T14:07:18","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T14:07:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemonkey.com\/?p=28792"},"modified":"2025-07-06T14:14:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T14:14:54","slug":"how-to-run-a-classroom-hackathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.codemonkey.com\/ru\/blog\/how-to-run-a-classroom-hackathon\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Run a Classroom Hackathon"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is a hackathon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever heard of a hackathon? You might be able to tell what it is from the word alone. \u201chackathon\u201d combines the words \u201chacking\u201d and \u201cmarathon\u201d …  you can think of it as a kind of marathon for hackers! In this article, we will outline the purposes of and benefits of a hackathon, and how you can plan and execute a hackathon in your classroom, with your students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A hackathon is an intensive, collaborative event where people with different skills come together to create something. Groups all over the world, from Fortune 500 companies to professional communities to schools, utilize hackathons. The specific goal of a hackathon is usually to invent something, with the end of the event resulting in a prototype for the invention. In the computer science world, coding professionals come together to improve upon or build a new software or computer program. This is a rapid prototype, or minimum viable product<\/a>. The goal is not perfection, rather, quick and booming creation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an outline of a typical hackathon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kickoff<\/strong>: Participants are given a task, usually a problem to solve or a product to create. They are given a short timeframe to complete the task (often 1-3 days), along with key rules and guidelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grouping<\/strong>: Participants get into groups based on their product ideas. These are the groups they will collaborate with throughout the hackathon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hacking<\/strong>: The bulk of the hackathon consists of\u2026 hacking! Participants collaborate in their groups to rapidly create a prototype to solve the problem at hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presentations\/ Judging<\/strong>: Groups present their prototypes (finished or unfinished) to the group, or to a panel of judges. Often, a winner is chosen and given some type of prize or award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond creating a solution or product, hackathons offer many additional benefits, including collaboration, skill-building, networking, and an opportunity to have some fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should I have a hackathon in my classroom?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hackathons can be utilized in your classroom for a myriad of purposes\u2013 they key is that the purpose of your hackathon aligns with the goals of your classroom. A hackathon could be framed as a school-wide problem-solving<\/a> activity, a way to culminate a unit or course, or simply a fun opportunity for collaboration and invention! Regardless of the purpose of your hackathon, they key benefits are the same:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reinforce coding concepts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Coding concepts and skills are best learned by doing. Giving students a chance to utilize these concepts in a \u201creal world\u201d situation will deepen learning and help skills stick. A hackathon allows students to apply their learning in new and creative ways, moving beyond isolated practice or coding drills. When they can see how different coding concepts work together in a larger project, they gain an understanding of why these concepts matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encourage real-world problem solving<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A hackathon mimics the environment of professional tech industry challenges, where the solution to a problem is needed in a timely manner. Students get a chance to trouble-shoot and move through the iterative design process in collaboration with their peers, just as they would in a professional setting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facilitate collaboration and teamwork<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter what education or career path your students choose to pursue, they will need the skills to effectively work as part of a team. During the hackathon, they will work with their team towards a common goal in a fun, fast-paced environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support diverse learning styles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You already know that your students have different strengths and interests. A hackathon gives all students a chance to shine, as each step and component of a hackathon requires different skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Build key career skills<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A hackathon helps students build skills other than those directly related to coding\u2013 things like negotiation, decision making, giving and receiving feedback, and presenting. These skills will serve students in whatever career they choose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foster a growth mindset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the hackathon, your students will approach a challenge that is most likely new to them and somewhat out of their comfort zone. They will also need to embrace failure. Building these abilities in a fun, low-pressure environment can help students continue to develop a growth mindset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\u043a\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Step Can I Take to Plan My Classroom Hackathon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1- Define the Goal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Taking time at the start of planning to define the goal of the hackathon will influence the success of the event and the overall experience of your students. You\u2019ll want to ask yourself a few questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the primary purpose of this hackathon? <\/em>Why are you, the teacher, choosing to plan and hold this hackathon? Is this the culminating event of a unit with challenging coding concepts? Are you hoping to help students develop new career skills like collaboration and design thinking? Is the real focus of the hackathon to give students a chance to have fun and build relationships with their peers? While you may have many different goals for your hackathon (maybe you would like to accomplish all of the above goals at once!), it can help to focus on a primary goal that can influence your priorities and decision making during the planning process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does this hackathon align with current learning objectives? How will you measure progress towards these objectives? <\/em>Think about the skills you would like to reinforce during this hackathon. You\u2019ll want to choose skills that are not entirely new and are realistic for students to build facilities on their own and with peers in the more \u201creal life\u201d setting of this event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2- Choose a Format<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, you\u2019ll want to choose a format for your hackathon, which includes when<\/strong> students will work and \u043a\u0430\u043a<\/strong> they will work. Be sure to keep in mind the ages, skill levels, and discipline levels of your students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u041a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430<\/strong>: Choose a specific time frame for your classroom hackathon. You could choose to have your hackathon take place over one or several class periods, or even a few weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How<\/strong>: While hackathons in the professional world are most often very open-ended, you\u2019ll want to think about the skill levels and work habits of your students when selecting a format. Will students work individually, in pairs, or in groups? Will they be given a task and then given freedom to move though the creative process as they see fit, or will they move through steps in specific time frames, with frequent check-ins?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3- Select a Task<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The task you have your students complete will drive their work throughout the hackathon. You want to select a task that aligns with your overall goal for the hackathon and gives your students a clear and exciting objective to work towards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think: What is the specific, measurable goal that you will communicate with students? <\/em>Consider the age and skill levels of your students, construct a clear goal that you can talk to them about and use throughout the hackathon to guide work and progress. These goals could be skill-based, project-based, or even based in teamwork and collaboration. As long as they align with the primary purpose of the event and the needs of your students, they will work! Remember to use actionable verbs and to make the goal attainable. Here are some examples of goals for a classroom hackathon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students will create a simple game or app that helps plan homework for the week.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the end of the hackathon, students will use at least one if-then statement and one loop. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students will identify and fix at least 2 bugs in their code using print outputs or built-in debugging tools.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students will create a game for kids that has a scoring system.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4- Prepare Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a professional setting, participants are usually expected to show up to a hackathon on the day that it starts, ready to bring their unique skills set to the table. They will know the timeline and general theme of the hackathon, but sometimes no more than that. In the classroom, especially with younger students, it can be helpful (sometimes essential) to take more time to prepare your students. You know your students best, and you probably have an idea about what they will need to be successful. Consider the following ideas to prepare your students and set them up for success on the day of the challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n