WeTeach_CS Summit 2022

Learning can be defined as a relatively lasting change in behavior through the result of experience and exposure. There are certain factors that can assure that the learning experience will have long standing effects on students. - Offer an experience they can't get anywhere else - Value their contributions - Show a clear and viable path from ""grunt work"" to collaboration - Challenge students to think critically Because of these factors, TACC has implemented hackathons as a tool to provide students an unique learning experience, challenging them to tackle real life scientific problems in a very limited time span. The experience involves learning new technologies, defining realistic project goals, defining milestones to achieve those goals, setting and assigning tasks to meet the milestones, collaborating and bonding with teammates and mentors, and having pride in their accomplishments. The success of TACC's hackathons have led to integrating the hackathon cycle into TACC's academic and professional development courses. Leading to a project oriented classroom where the instructors have become mentors in guiding students through the learning experience, and homework and tests have become tasks and milestones towards the completion of the final project. This integration has redefined the student-teacher relationship and how class is conducted and managed.