Hackathons as experiential learning platforms for engineering design skills
Creators: name: Sotaquirá-Gutiérrez, Ricardo
name: Beltran, Luis Miguel
name: Ruiz, Juan Pablo Garzon
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: Space Science
Neuroscience
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy
Mental Health

description: During hackathons, students energetically collaborate in teams, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to tackle real-world challenges in a tight timeframe. Understanding the factors behind student learning in hackathons is essential to harness their educational potential. Recent research has examined this issue, yet limited focus has been on how hackathons impact participants’ design skills. Can hackathons be seen as experiential learning activities that enhance Engineering Design skills? This study offers a general approach to uncover evidence of engineering design processes in hackathons, built on a conceptual framework rooted in classic Engineering Design references. Applied in a nationwide hackathon with 127 students from 16 universities, data were collected through surveys from 22 participants. The findings suggest that hackathons not only enable participants to apply engineering design skills but also foster their development in an experiential setting. Additionally, the convergence of competition, time pressure, and an engaging environment creates a stimulating atmosphere that significantly drives skill development and enhances the overall educational experience. This research concludes that hackathons serve as valuable platforms for experiential learning among engineering students, particularly in nurturing their potential as designers. Consequently, formulating ways to integrate or blend regular design courses with hackathons can produce further educational advantages. Hackathons are more than open innovation marathons—they are powerful learning platforms. This research explores how hackathons help engineering students develop essential design skills and identifies key factors driving rapid learning in these events.Participants engage deeply with the engineering design process, generating outputs such as design ideas (90.9%), user interface mockups (72.7%), and functional prototypes (63.6%). They acquire new techniques and technologies while addressing real-world constraints. Unlike traditional coursework, hackathons immerse students in dynamic environments that foster rapid learning and skill application.The study reveals that competition (86.4%), time constraints (68.2%), and the need to learn (59.1%) are the primary drivers of this accelerated skill development. These factors create a high-energy atmosphere that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical decision-making.For educators, hackathons can complement traditional courses to enhance learning. For companies, they provide a unique opportunity to connect with emerging talent and foster open innovation. Hackathons are more than open innovation marathons—they are powerful learning platforms. This research explores how hackathons help engineering students develop essential design skills and identifies key factors driving rapid learning in these events. Participants engage deeply with the engineering design process, generating outputs such as design ideas (90.9%), user interface mockups (72.7%), and functional prototypes (63.6%). They acquire new techniques and technologies while addressing real-world constraints. Unlike traditional coursework, hackathons immerse students in dynamic environments that foster rapid learning and skill application. The study reveals that competition (86.4%), time constraints (68.2%), and the need to learn (59.1%) are the primary drivers of this accelerated skill development. These factors create a high-energy atmosphere that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical decision-making. For educators, hackathons can complement traditional courses to enhance learning. For companies, they provide a unique opportunity to connect with emerging talent and foster open innovation.