Hackathons: Innovations in Learning and Collaboration Hackathons can be used to promote learning and collaboration, as a recruiting tool, for community outreach, and product development. Most are two-day intensive coding events that encourage individuals in different roles to connect, problem solve, learn from each other, and have fun at the same time. A Hackathon can focus on a programming language, operating system, application, API, etc. A successful Hackathon features food, fun, and technology.

Hackathons Four to-date DE APIs Google APIs Facebook APIs Learning Registry The goal of the DE Hackathons is to help promote DE internally and externally as a fun, innovative and exciting place to work.  These intense events give employees a chance to experiment with different tools and technology outside of their daily routines as they grow working relationships, establish friendships, and develop synergies across development groups and businesses. Experimentation, failure, and risk are all important components of the Hackathon.  Of course our businesses can also use and/or continue to develop the products produced during the event. 

Hackathons Real-World Apps Education Datapalooza Exposure for DE Our support of York County, the City of Norfolk and the Department of  Education really impressed  Marina Martinez who attended the last Hackathon. She appreciated the apps we built and the actionable feedback we provided for her department's Learning Registry  project. Marina secured invitations for Matt and Melodi to attend today’s "Education Datapalooza" event sponsored by the White House and  the Department of Education. Held in Washington, the event will highlighted "innovators and entrepreneurs who are using freely available data to build products, services, and apps with the potential to advance educational  achievement." The U.S. Secretary of Education and the U.S. CTO will also attend.

Hackathons Not just about the food! Blog Entry by one of the attendees: http://blog.hansdezwart.info/2012/10/22/hackathons-innovations-in-learning-and-collaboration/

Hackathons Application for non-tech companies? Related article: Great Meetings: Can a ‘Hackathon’ Meeting Yield Innovation? http://thebuildnetwork.com/team-building/great-meetings-can-a-hackathon-meeting-yield-innovation/