Road to Hackathon (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

Pass/Fail

Content scheduling

There are three mandatory assignments:
- pre-assignment (hackathon "game plan", possible roles and short analysis of the challenge)
- hackathon learning diary
- final presentation (3 minute pitch as a recorded video)

Objective

After the completion of this course, students can
- Apply the knowledge and skills they have accumulated during their studies in solving real-life problems
- Uncover and process customer needs and pain points into solutions
- Present and promote their ideas and solutions in compelling ways
- Cooperate in cross-functional initiatives
- Prioritize work in a high stress situation

EUR-ACE: Knowledge and understanding 
EUR-ACE: Investigations and information retrieval 

Content

Course prepares its students to participate a hackathon event.
Hackathon brings students, universities and companies under the same roof for limited period. For a student it offers possibility to network with like-minded people, solve real-life problems and meet their future employee.
Following topics are discussed during the course
1. Why participate a hackathon
2. Team and roles
3. Design thinking
4. Technologies and environments
5. Storytelling/pitching
6. Choosing the challenge
7. Practical arrangement before and during the event
8. Priorities and scheduling during the event

Location and time

This is a nonstop online (totally virtual) course. You can schoose the time and place yourself.

Materials

Materials in the e-learning environment. Slides and related video presentations, links to web-based guides such as https://hackathon.guide/.

Teaching methods

- lectures
- independent study
- distance learning
- webinars
- small group learning
- exercises
- learning tasks
- seminars (hackathon)

Employer connections

The hackathon is based on the needs of the companies or other organisations

Exam schedules

The possible date and method of the exam will be announced in the course opening.

Completion alternatives

The admission procedures are described in the degree rule and the study guide. The teacher of the course will give you more information on possible specific course practices.

Student workload

One credit (1 Cr) corresponds to an average of 27 hours of work.
- video lectures 4 h
- pre-assignment 12 h
- attending the actual hackathon 48 h
- writing the learning diary 12 h
- making/finilising the presentation 5 h
Total 81 h

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Besides the participation and presenting results of the hackathon, we evaluate the content and presentation as follows:
- Content is novel, aligned with the communication objective and clearly targeted at the needs of the specific audience.
- The customer benefits and market opportunity are clear, compelling and believable.
- The idea is feasible and viable.
- The presentation is clearly and logically organised.

Qualifications

-

Further information

Course is co-curated by Lauri Mäkinen, who has won multiple categories in the biggest hackathons in Europe with his team.