Digital Smarts - Hackathons - A View of the ”Real World” Work for Young People

To someone who doesn’t know what one is, a “Hackathon” might not sound like an educational event appropriate for students, but it is actually a unique learning experience that provides a chance for students to spend extended time working on technology based projects instead of being restricted to a 45-60 minute class period in school. Loosely defined, hackathons are events where people with diverse skills work collaboratively to create solution-oriented technology. All students benefit from hackathons, according to Claire Shorall, a former instructional coach and STEM teacher at Castlemont High School in California. "The exposure and access that hackathons have provided to my students -- from introductions to new technologies to networking with engineers of color -- has been trajectory changing," she writes in a blog post. If you have a child interested in the tech field, check with your school to see if they have opportunities to send students to a local hackathon experience.